ION GLASS LTD
UNIT 16 MORE HOUSE FARM
DITCHLING ROAD
WIVELSFIELD
WEST SUSSEX RH17 7RE
Tel: 0345 658 9988
Fax: info@ionglass.co.uk
Suppliers of: Glass Balustrades, Curved Glass, Glass Flooring, Glass Cladding, Glass Splashbacks, Glass Cubicles, Glass Doors
ION GLASS provides architectural glass for a wide range of new build, refurbishment, heritage and contemporary projects across the UK. Ion Glass works in commercial, heritage and ecclesiastical buildings, leisure and educational properties and substantial residential projects. Functional and beautiful our bespoke structural glass solutions are precisely made and installed to meet even the most complex design briefs.
Products -
GLASS BALUSTRADES
Ion Glass bespoke glass balustrades are simply beautiful and functional, individually designed to meet a wide range of criteria and different situations.
GLASS DOORS
Glass doors, either wholly frameless or with minimal fixtures, provide a versatile and stylish result in a wide scope of commercial, heritage, leisure or residential situations, maintaining light and space and allowing visual access to welcome visitors or customers.
GLASS SCREENS & PARTITIONS
Ion Glass screens and glass partitions create functional spaces, room divisions or meeting rooms.
GLASS SHOWER ENCLOSURES & WETROOMS
Ion Glass frameless glass shower enclosures, bath screens, glass doors and glass partitions provide beautiful and functional results.
GLASS LINKWAYS
A structural glass linkway can provide the best possible link between two buildings and is particularly appropriate when linking an old building to a new extension.
GLASS STRUCTURES
Glass structures can be fixed to the side of an existing building, creating a stylish and contemporary glass extension that creates maximum light flow.
GLASS CANOPIES
A glass canopy makes a stylish, individual and practical statement over your entrance and can offer protection from the weather in communal areas.
GLASS ROOFLIGHTS
Increase the flow of light with a bespoke glass rooflight expertly manufactured and installed to meet individual requirements.
GLASS CUBICLES
ION bespoke glass cubicles are the perfect custom glass solutions for leisure centres, gyms and hotels, providing streamlined glass cubicle systems for each project.
GLASS FLOORING
Improve light flow around your commercial or residential property with a glass floor, opening up or creating additional spaces whilst maintaining maximum light penetration.
GLASS WALL CLADDING & PANELS
Coloured glass wall cladding provides a striking and easily maintained wall surface that is ideal in a wide range of commercial and residential interiors.
MEZZANINE FLOORS
A structural glass balustrade can be fitted to your mezzanine floor with a choice of fixing methods for optimum functionality and stylish appearance
CHURCHES & HERITAGE
Our structural glass works flawlessly in heritage and ecclesiastical environments
Working closely with Architects, Designers and Builders we provide technical expertise and full support from concept through to precise survey, manufacture and installation, ensuring that each bespoke glass project meets all relevant criteria and standards.
Whether you need internal or external glass balustrades; glass shower screens; glass doors or internal glass screens; glass balconies, structural glass rooflights or structural glass windows, decorative glass wall finishes or a structural glass link between buildings, Ion Glass provides consistent, perfect results.
Curved glass or straight, choose crystal clear glass, sandblasted, laminated, tinted, coloured or any one of a myriad of bespoke glass finishes - including glass that incorporates your logo, artwork or individual design.
Ion will also supply all relevant hinges, brackets and fittings including the design and production of bespoke metalwork to provide functional and beautiful results.
Further technical information, image galleries and product specifications are available through the Ion Glass website or via the BPi Download Library.
ION Glass - Structural glass for creating additional space
Have you considered the benefits of using frameless structural glass to create additional space within a building? Especially in heritage or listed buildings with limited scope to extend externally but with high ceilings that could easily accommodate a mezzanine floor.
This article explores how to incorporate structural glass into your plans, causing minimal impact to the fabric of the building whilst retaining the beauty of the original, historic features.
For more information on Ion’s solutions in fully frameless or minimally framed glass meeting rooms, internal or external balustrades (curved or straight) glass porches, glass linkways, bespoke glass doors, glass shower screens, glass screens or other architectural glass installations
Call us on 0345 658 9988
Send us an email via info@ionglass.co.uk
Or make an immediate appointment to speak to one of our experts:
ION Glass - Increase your space with bespoke glass
Consider the benefits of using frameless structural glass when you create additional space in a heritage building.
Updating conservation and heritage properties to meet contemporary requirements can be a challenge, especially when you need additional space but there’s no scope to extend or change the footprint of your building.
Peter Hazeldean, MD of ecclesiastical and heritage specialists Ion Glass, recommends looking upwards. He said: ‘Buildings designed to inspire awe with high ceilings and towers often have more space within the building than room to extend externally. Adding a gallery or mezzanine floor can significantly increase your floor area.
Including structural glass in your plans ensures that ancient stonework and carvings remain visible and that light flow is unimpeded, especially where stained glass windows, or the views, are integral to the appearance and atmosphere of the original building.’
St Lawrence at Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds is a vibrant Grade I listed building that dates back to the 12thCentury.
A substantial re-ordering was carried out to make the interior more suited to the needs of the Church and the local community. Removing a number of pews allowed more flexibility for groups, events and exhibitions whilst adding a mezzanine floor created plenty of additional space and seating with a direct view of the nave and the high altar. The addition of the mezzanine also facilitated the conversion of previously unused space to the rear of the church into an attractive meeting room, kitchen space and toilet facilities.
Ion Glass were commissioned to provide all the structural glass for the re-ordering. In particular, a bespoke frameless glass balustrade runs seamlessly across the face of the mezzanine and down the staircase.
Discussing the project, Peter Hazeldean said, ‘The balcony has a slight curve but we recommended manufacturing each individual glass panel in slightly different widths which allowed us to accommodate the slight curve of the balcony without the additional expense of commissioning curved glass panels. The result is a gently curved balustrade constructed from straight panels – with each panel channel set into the structure so there are no visible fixings.
Adding the mezzanine floor also created a need to protect the ancient stained glass windows. These were previously high above the nave but are now accessible and subject to potential damage. Ion Glass fitted bespoke glass protection panels across the windows, ensuring the stained glass is fully protected but still completely visible’.
Ion also installed new bespoke glass doors and a draught-proof glass entrance lobby, allowing the original wooden doors to remain open to make the church more welcoming and user-friendly for the congregation and visitors.
Peter added, ‘This is a lovely church and all the team at Ion were really proud to be part of an inspired vision that has significantly improved and updated the space, bringing it firmly into the 21st Century.’
Conversion from Church to Heritage and Wellness Centre
St Mary’s at the Quay in the centre of Ipswich was a Grade II listed medieval church that had fallen into disuse. The building was fully restored and renovated to create a heritage and wellbeing centre providing a space for mental wellbeing, along with a venue that could be hired out for meetings and events.
Building a mezzanine floor made full use of the lofty church ceiling to open up additional space, whilst at the same time offering an unhindered view of the nave for people using the meeting rooms. Sympathetic use of structural glass ensured that the atmosphere and architecture of the building was fully retained.
Ion Glass installed a combination of glass screens and panels that fit perfectly into the arches overlooking the nave along with glass partitions to create fully contained and private meeting rooms. The panels were fitted into bespoke steel mullions to echo the look and feel of the original stonework.
The original arched glass window overlooking a busy road adjacent to the church was screened with acoustic safety glass to protect the original stained glass and reduce the impact of traffic noise.
Ion also installed glass balustrading across the front of the mezzanine floor and to both sides of the staircase, adding a bespoke aluminium handrail in keeping with the industrial look and feel the client wanted to achieve.
‘This was an interesting installation,’ commented Peter, ‘the architects had specified extensive use of frameless glass throughout the entire project, with impressive results. Using glass makes the space functional and contemporary without detracting from the look and feel of the original building.’
Frameless balustrades for a Martello Tower
It’s not just churches that benefit from the addition of a mezzanine floor. A newly renovated Martello Tower enjoys a stunning outlook over the South Coast. The owners have maximised the location with full height windows at the top of the tower and a mezzanine floor where they can sit and enjoy the views.
Accessed by a spiral staircase the mezzanine is fully enclosed by a continuous sweep of frameless curved glass balustrade.
Ion’s brief was to provide curved glass panels that fitted flawlessly around the new mezzanine, combining channel set balustrade around the tight curve at the top of the spiral staircase and bolted glass balustrade around the mezzanine floor. With minimal visible fixings and no handrail there is nothing to impact on the views.
‘Our results often look deceptively simple,’ continued Peter, ‘but we ensured that the balustrade flows seamlessly across the space, not only accommodating the curve of the staircase but also a change in level to a lower seating area. The result is truly impressive and the owners were delighted!’
‘Glass balustrades, doors and screens offer the optimum result in so many heritage buildings,’ continued Peter. ‘Each heritage installation raises different challenges but it’s always a pleasure to work in ancient buildings, bringing new life to old spaces and blending old with new.’
For more information about Ion Glass or to discuss your project visit www.ionglass.co.uk or call 0345 658 9988.
