‘Invisible’ Kestrel door specified for bespoke installation

A bespoke Kestrel Aluminium Systems’ door has been specified for an impressive installation on the fourth floor terrace of a commercial office building in the heart of Manchester’s professional district.

Architectural glass specialist, Contemporary Glass Structures, was chosen to manufacture and install a flush glazed mirror door into the property as part of an extensive renovation project. The company was approached by the main contractor because of its experience in frameless structural glass products.

Contemporary Glass Structures’ Andy Howells said: “The client wanted the door to almost disappear within the external glass facade. The contractor’s curtain wall supplier could only do a standard framed door, which was not what the architect and client wanted.”

Contemporary specified Kestrel Aluminium’s residential door system as the base for the project.

The geometry of the door hinges gave the best external glass-to-glass gap at the hinge position, without the glass on the door leaf clashing with the glass which is silicone bonded to the outside of the outer frame. The slim, minimalistic design of the hinges also worked well with the aesthetics of the design.

The PAS 24-accredited Kestrel door, with its double mechanical spring cleats to each mitre joint, also gave the team the confidence to attempt to use this design for such a large-sized door, which measured 1,200mm wide x 2,600mm high, and weighed nearly 100kg.

For safety purposes, Contemporary installed a closer to prevent the outwardly opening door from catching in the wind and opening too far (past 110°).

A stainless-steel boss was machined to space the external handle mounting face away from the door by 14mm to allow for the thickness of the external stepped glass and the silicone bond.

The door frame was powder coated with a special, Tiger Drylac colour. The glass specified was a made-to-order Guardian Glass HD20 product.

Andrew Cross, marketing manager at Kestrel Aluminium Systems, said: “We were delighted that our aluminium residential door system was specified as the base for this ambitious project. Thanks to our high-specification, robust frames, Contemporary Glass Structures was able to deliver a large, impressive door that adds real grandeur to the building’s terrace.”