A design brief that required the maximum amount of daylight to enter a four-bedroom flat within the ground floor and newly-created basement of a terraced property in Chelsea, resulted in Henri Bredenkamp, director at Studio 30 Architects, selecting bespoke steel windows and doors from Steel Window Association member Monk Metal Windows.In digging out the new basement to the Victorian building, a light well was created and three large W40 steel screens and doors were manufactured and installed by Monk Metal Windows. Employed on three facades, the metal windows serve as a unifying feature that also picks up on the block like pattern of the existing sash windows above.

To serve the ground floor living area, an eight-pane screen was employed measuring 3m high x 1.2m wide. Within the master bedroom, which is located in the basement, a screen over 2.6m high x 4.5m wide with double doors was designed to fill the entire end wall. The biggest item was a large, partly angled screen designed to follow the line of the staircase. This rises from 2.1m to over 4.2m while measuring 4.7m in width and containing 2.6m high double doors that allow access into the light well at the bottom of the staircase.

All the windows and doors supplied were hot dipped galvanised and polyester powder coated in matt anthracite grey, RAL 7016. They were glazed with 24mm insulating double glazed units.

The W40 range of double glazed windows from Monk Metal Windows offers slim sightlines while meeting Building Regulations for weathertightness, air infiltration, water penetration and wind loading. The W40 range features dual air seals incorporated in the opening vents which greatly enhance resistance to air and water penetration.

Elaborate composite windows are fashioned using mullions and transoms to join single units together and tubular steel profiles can be added for strength or as a feature. A complete range of ironmongery is available while purpose made pressed metal sills, flashings and metal faced insulated infill panels can be fitted to the basic panel.

Henri Bredenkamp comments: “The intention was always to fully glaze as many of the facades as we could in order to let ample daylight into the new master bedroom and corridor but we wanted something other than the standard bifold look. We decided to use metal windows because they look interesting and have slim sight lines. Monk was one of the few companies that could provide the height of door we required. They delivered on time and the steel windows are of high quality; the client is very happy with the result.”

For further information on the Steel Window Association, please visit www.steel-window-association.co.uk or call 0844 249 1355.