The Louvre Pyramid

Location: Paris, France, Architect: I.M. Pei, Year of Completion: 1989

© Courtesy of Djof

Work on the iconic entrance to the Louvre museum began in 1984 as the then French president François Mitterrand hired leading Chinese architect I.M. Pei to create this stunning example of modernist architecture. The structure, which is constructed entirely of glass segments reaches 70 feet high, its square base has sides of 115 feet and consists of 70 triangular glass segments. The Pyramid came in for some initial criticism as many felt that the design looked out of place against the classical architecture of the Louvre Museum while others praised the contrasting styles and the ability of I.M. Pei to successfully merger of the old and the new, the classical and the ultra-modern.

Willis Tower Glass Balconies

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA, Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Year of Completion: 2009

In 2009 Chicago based architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed a retractable glass balcony for the Willis Tower. ‘The Ledge’ as it’s become known is suspended 1,353 feet in the air, extends out four feet from the building’s Skydeck and can withstand the weight of up to five tons. The transparent walls and ceilings were designed to give the impression that visitors were floating above the city skyline and to provide unparalleled views of Chicago.

National Grand Theatre of China

Location: Beijing, China, Architect: Paul Andreu, Year of Completion: 2007

© Courtesy of Francisco Diez

This enormous dome of glass and titanium was created by renowned French architect Paul Andreu in 2007 and is widely regarded as one of China’s finest architectural achievements. Surrounded by a manmade lake to create a reflection of the building and an impression of an egg floating on water, the ‘Bird’s Egg’ which seats 5,452 guests houses an opera, a theatre and music hall. Located to the west of Tiananmen Square, the dome stands 46 meters high, came in at a cost of ¥ 3.2 billion and when averaged out each seat is worth half a million Chinese Yen.

Basque Health Department Headquarters

Location: Bilbao, Spain, Architects: Juan Coll-Barreu & Daniel Gutiérrez Zarza, Year of Completion: 2008

© Courtesy of Aleix Bagué

Located at the crossroad of the two most important streets in Ensanche, Bilbao the health department headquarters provide multiple and changing views of the city and aims to capture the dynamic sprit of Bilbao. The building is constructed of angular glass, takes on a highly organic form and is inspired by the work of Frank Gehry, architect of the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao. The project began in 2003 and was completed 6 years later at a cost of just under 13 million Euros.

Gas Natural Fenosa Headquarters

Location: Barcelona, Sapin, Architects: Enric Miralles & Benedetta Tagliabue, Year of Completion: 2006

© Courtesy of José Miguel Hernández Hernández

The headquarters of Gas Natural Fenosa comprises of three separate buildings which are fragmented and then erected from a series of layers, clad with a solar clear control glass skin. The concept behind this structure was to enable the building to merge into its urban surroundings. One of the most striking features is its originality and contrasting appearance from different locations within the city of Barcelona. There is also an emotional attachment to the location of the building as this was the site where the first Spanish gas works were located 160 years ago.

Ironbank Building

Location: Auckland, New Zealand,  Architects: RTA Studio, Year of Completion: 2010

© Courtesy of Phillip Wong

Located in an historic area on the edge of Auckland, the building aims to address the transition between the contrasting streets in this neighbourhood.  The exterior of the Ironbank is clad in rusted steel to provide a distinctive, industrial feel in contrast to the elevator which is encased entirely in glass. Leading architect Gerald Parsonson described the Ironbank as having a rare synthesis of originality, visual impact, functionality and ecological sensitivity. During construction 90% of the existing buildings on the site were recycled leading to widespread praise for the buildings ecological sustainability.

Neo Solar Power Corporation Headquarters

Location: Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan, Architects: J. J. Pan & Partners, Year of Completion: 2009

© Courtesy of JJPP

The inspiration for this stunning design came from the product at the heart of the company. The unique, crimped gleaming glass façade uses solar panels to instantly conjure up images of transferring sunlight into renewable energy. To give the building its unique, undulating exterior eight trapezoid units were created using a combination of half-unit glass and aluminium curtain walls which are finished with over 350 glass-cutting patterns.

Heat loss through windows is common in all homes and if your windows are not as energy efficient as they could be you’re going to be losing out.

The benefits.

According to the Energy Saving Trust ‘replacing all single-glazed windows with B-rated double glazing could save you around £165 per year on your energy bills’. This will lead to a smaller carbon footprint as you’ll use less fuel and generate less carbon dioxide that leads to global warming. You’ll benefit from improved noise reduction; more consistent temperatures all year round, experience fewer drafts, and reduce condensation.

What to look for.

When it comes to finding the most energy efficient windows look for the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) rating which assesses the windows energy efficiency based on its ability to retain heat.

The system they use is similar to that which grade the efficiency of other household appliances and white goods and uses a scale of A-G with A being the most efficient . In order to assess the efficiency of a window the total solar heat transmittance of the glass, the U-value of the window and the air penetration through the window seals are evaluated.

The most energy efficient glass available is low emissivity (Low-E) glass, which allows heat and light to pass through while limiting the amount of heat that can escape. You can find out more about much money you could save by installing more energy efficient windows by using the Glass and Glazing Federation’s Energy Saving Calculator.

And just in case you’re wondering, every window Kingfisher installs is A rated, uses low emissivity glass and complies to the latest government building regulations.

Natural stone has a unique and beautiful character. Here’s two to consider:

Marble is considered a premium choice of flooring and can add an element of luxury to your conservatory. Famous for its elegant, classical look and feel marble can significantly enhance the appearance of any room and would be ideal choice for a conservatory that will be used for entertaining friends and family. At an average cost of £60.00 per square metre, marble is as you would expect a high end option but if it’s within your budget the results can be stunning.

Granite is an incredibly dense material, highly durable, and virtually impervious to liquids. When it comes to the appearance granite is known for its great depth and clarity of colour and when polished can produce a high gloss finish. Due to its incredibly hard-wearing nature, granite lends itself well to a contemporary conservatory that will experience a lot of use. Granite is a less expensive alternative to marble, with an average price of £40.00 per square metre.

If you’re attracted to the qualities of marble and granite but neither is within your budget, ceramic titles may just be the answer.

Advanced inkjet technologies can be used to create the impression of marble titles at a fraction of the cost. Ceramic is the flooring of choice for those who wish to create a truly individual look thanks to the vast range of colours and patterns available and at as little as £10.00 per square metre you won’t have to break the bank to achieve the desired look.

Real wood flooring brings a natural, elegant and warming embrace to any home. Here’s three to consider:

Oak is famed for the beauty of its grains, the depth of its texture and the richness of its colours. An oak floor provides an unrivalled natural appearance and due to the different number of species throughout the world you can find a colour that will suite your own individual tastes for an average price of £45.00 per square meter.

Bamboo flooring has increased in popularity in recent years as more and people become aware of its ecological properties. Bamboo is harvested at a maturity level of five years, unlike hardwood which is harvested from trees which are decades old. Bamboo has good resistant qualities, is considered one of the most durable types of flooring available and will set you back an average of £25.00 per square metre.

Cork is a warm, enriching and alternative method to the traditional ways of flooring your conservatory. Cork is a natural insulator, never loses its shape, always retains its elasticity and provides a soft and warm floor with which to walk on and at an average price of £15.00 per square meter provides good value for money.

All six different types of flooring have their own unique values and will perform equally well in the right conservatory. Whether you desire the depth of colour provided by granite or the natural feel of oak, consideration should be given to what works best for you and your conservatory.

Free Standing Heaters

Free standing heaters allow you to add a quick burst of heat to your conservatory whenever you wish and can be stored away to help save space when not required. Despite the ease of use, this doesn’t really translate in to a practical, long term means of effectively heating your conservatory, especially in the winter months.

Radiators

In most circumstances radiators have to be plumbed into your central heating system which can cause additional costs, especially if your boiler requires an upgrade to cope with the extra demand. Radiators are certainly a more effective means of heating your conservatory when compared to free standing heaters. However, they have one major drawback. Radiators work by creating convection currents which circulate causing warmer air to rise and cooler air to fall which is not a particularly effective method of heating taller rooms such as conservatories.

Underfloor heating

There are two different types of underfloor heating available; electric and hot water. Hot water underfloor heating is plumbed into your central heating system, is at its most effective if your central heating system can cope with the extra demand and the plumbing can be incorporated into your existing radiator system. Electric is generally the preferred choice due to its cost effective nature and ease of installation. The temperatures can be controlled by an independent digital thermostat allowing you to have complete control over the temperature of your conservatory all year round.

One considerable advantage of any type of underfloor heating is that this invisible means of heating affords you more options when it comes to designing the interior of your conservatory as you don’t have to worry about where to position additional heaters.

Of the heating methods we’ve looked at, electric underfloor heating provides the biggest benefits.  It is relatively easy to install, so much so that a competent DIY enthusiast could complete the task themselves together with the assistance of a qualified electrician. Once installed, it remains out of site and provides optimum temperatures all year round.

Given that customer satisfaction is paramount to what we do here at Kingfisher Windows, we are continually searching for ways to improve, innovate and create perfect home extension solutions for your home and are thrilled to introduce our new range of Livin Rooms.

A Livin Rooms combine the very best features of conservatories and orangeries to deliver a truly stunning, multifunctional room that has the genuine feel of a living room. Such is the versatility of the room that you can use it for relaxation, entertaining or as a full on family room with far more furnishing options available than in a conservatory or an orangery.

The glass ceiling allows optimum levels of light to penetrate throughout the room while providing higher levels of thermal efficiency than your standard conservatory.

To discover more about how a Livin Room can transform your home get in touch today and we’ll be delighted to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

How many of you run the tap while brushing your teeth? Those who do are using an additional 13,000 gallons of water each year. That’s a lot of water and money down the drain. Simply remembering to turn the lights off when they’re no longer needed or only boiling the correct amount of water you require when using the kettle can all hep you save more than you may think.

Website such as Money Saving Expert are an excellent source of money saving advice and cover all manner of things from the best cash ISA’s to the cheapest broadband.

At Kingfisher Windows we can also help you save money in 2012 by installing ‘A’ rated, energy efficient uPVC double glazing in your home.  Our windows will allow you to reduce heat loss by as much as 25% which can make a considerable reduction to your heating and energy bills.

Not only will our windows help you save money but they’ll enable you to maintain a more regulated temperature all year round. Double glazing works in such a way that it keeps the hot air in during the cold of winter and allows the warmer air to escape during the hotter summer months.

In addition to saving you money and providing your home with more consistent temperatures double glazing delivers superior noise reduction and added levels of security.

The more design conscious among you can select from our stunning range of coloured windows enabling you to add a truly individual finish to your home.

So, what are you waiting for? Save money by reducing your energy bills, increase the security of your property and add a stylish finish to your home this year with Kingfisher Windows

Using the 360° virtual tour you are able to get a complete view from the inside of the orangery with high-resolution images taken from every angle. You can drag your mouse around the image to look around or zoom in to view the detail.

Click here to view the 360° Virtual Tour.

Our new range of hybrid windows combines style and functionality to deliver windows which have the high levels of durability and low levels of maintenance you’d come to expect from aluminium with the natural beauty of a timber frame.

With a number of different glazing options available we can maximise thermal efficiency, improve noise reduction and increase security. Not only can you chose from a range of glazing options but our hybrid windows come in a variety of different colours and finishes including gloss, satin and matt.

So, there you have it, a new range that combines the best of both worlds and is available to be installed now. To find out more visit the Hybrid Windows section of our website or contact us today.

With over 125,000 guests expected over the three day event, we’re looking forward to meeting the cream of Yorkshire’s agricultural and business crops.

The show runs from Tuesday the 12^th to Thursday the 14^th July so why not call in at our stand (501) to find out more about our range of products and what can be done to help you improve your energy.

Our composite stable doors are individually made to fit your home, in the colour and style of your choice. Just like the rest of our range, these quality stable doors are incredibly low-maintenance, highly durable, totally weather resistant and highly energy efficient to allow you to take advantage of traditional styling with modern features. There’s also the added reassurance of a 10 year guarantee so you can rest assured that you’re in safe hands with Kingfisher Windows.

Why not get in touch with us today to find out how our new range of composite stable doors could transform your home?