Selectaglaze discuss the recent conversion of listed buildings in Berkshire, reinstating some original designs to return the property to it’s former glory
A striking collection of three Georgian Listed buildings in Berkshire, including one on the Buildings at Risk register, have recently been converted back into 53 stylish apartments.  The most noteworthy among them is the Grade II* Listed St David’s Hall, built in the 1830s, a former hall of residence and was on Historic England’s ‘Buildings at Risk’ register. Also included in the plan are St Laurence’s Hall and St Mary’s Hall; both Grade II Listed.
A number of changes were made to the layout of the buildings to convert them into halls of residence in the early 1990s. Although required at the time, the alterations have harmed the historic significance of the buildings.
The new conversion of these Listed buildings, by developer Thomas Homes, had to be carried out in a careful and sympathetic fashion and went a significant way towards restoring them back to their original layout and former glory. Many of the original features have been retained and enhanced in a bid to offer potential buyers a blend of classic and contemporary architecture.
As Thomas Homes had a duty to retain and preserve the historic features of the building, the original timber shutters were restored and fixed in position within the shutter box as a decorative feature. A timber reveal was introduced between the box sash and shutter box, onto which the secondary glazing was installed with the correct cavity to achieve the desired dB reduction. This meant that a full view of the decorative shutters was retained, preserving the historical elements of the structure whilst upgrading the building to modern thermal and acoustic targets.
The main requirement for the secondary glazing was noise insulation from the busy thoroughfare, London Road. The largest windows were 2m wide x 2.7m high and some with arched heads. The secondary glazing needed to allow access to the external windows for cleaning and maintenance purposes.
Thomas Homes sought advice from Selectaglaze to assist in reducing the external noise levels. London Road’s busy thoroughfare would be a distraction without some effective acoustic insulation. Along with noise reduction, secondary glazing also aids in eliminating unwanted drafts trapping them in an insulating layer. It also diminishes heat loss assisting in creating a more comfortable living space.
300 units were fitted to all three of the Listed Buildings, across all floors over a two year period. Four different Series were used to suit the various reveals and different sized primary openings across the complex. Furthermore, the secondary glazing in the bathrooms at St Laurence’s Hall was glazed with obscurity glass for enhanced privacy.
The development has been chosen as a finalist for the Residential Development of the Year category at the prestigious Thames Valley 2018 Property Awards.
Founded in 1966, Royal Warrant holder Selectaglaze has worked buildings of all types from Listed to traditional and even new build.
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