Turning 11 separate residential properties and an existing hotel into one venue in the heart of Edinburgh was always going to be a challenge. Delivering all the associated rooftop plant screening louvres amid constrained site logistics took that challenge to new heights- scaled by Gilberts.
With the aim of creating the first Scottish hotel for the Hoxton brand, part of Ennismore the world’s fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company. The project blended 11 interconnected Georgian style townhouses on one side of the street with a former hotel opposite plus a new extension into one new, cohesive whole. If that wasn’t challenge enough, the site was live, in the heart of a World Heritage Site, and required upgrading of all HVAC and electrical elements to deliver today’s high standards of comfort.
To satisfy the stringent planning requirements in the area- Edinburgh’s New Town Conservation Area- the rooftop plant sited on the new ballroom-style events space had to be screened from view.
As the UK’s leading independent HVAC manufacturer, we stepped up to design, supply and install a plant louvre screening solution that would enable the plant to function optimally and satisfy the Conservation Area aesthetics without penetrating the new waterproofing on the flat roof.
Based around our WGK75 system, our solution was to engineer one 19.8m long screen with eight sides each 2m high and a second four-sided bank running 24m, secured via a non-penetrative fixing system. Bearing in mind the site’s proximity to the Firth of Forth, we recommended finishing each component in marine grade powder coating.
We worked closely with all construction parties to co-ordinate deliveries, extending due consideration to guests still using the existing hotel and local residents.
We delivered all the components for the louvres, frames, fixing, and ballast to a courtyard behind the hotel, transporting everything across the rear garden for winching to the roof via scaffolding towers. We then carefully built up the screen taking care to avoid any penetration of the new warm roof waterproofing nor damage to the large glazing atrium top the events space.
Our WGK75 louvre system is the principle building block in our louvre range. It delivers 50% free ventilation area whilst giving a neat and compact appearance. The 75mm pitch of each louvre blade provides visual balance with strength and rigidity to withstand weather ingress.
The Hoxton Edinburgh project demonstrates our continuing commitment to innovative and sustainable commercial air distribution solutions, driven from the company’s 140,000 sq ft research and manufacturing facility in Lancashire.
The WGK louvres used at Hoxton Edinburgh are just part of our comprehensive range of plant screening, architectural, thermal (solar shading/brise soleil) and acoustic louvres.
Hoxton Edinburgh joins the ranks of, among others, The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club (aka Wimbledon), Papworth Hospital, the former home of Saga Records The Gramophone Works, Blackpool FC, the National Composites Centre at Bristol and Manchester’s iconic PrintWorks, to benefit from our louvres.