Ship shape

Posted On - 19/02/2018
Posted By - Glass Times

Homelessness in Ealing is being alleviated thanks to homes built from former shipping containers that feature facades manufactured from Aluglaze panels.

The development of 60 units, known as Meath Court, Hope Gardens, provides accommodation for nearly 290 people in Ealing.

Ealing Council has 2,242 households residing in temporary accommodation and a steady decline in the availability of suitable options. Hope Gardens was previously an underused brownfield site that was identified for long-term redevelopment post 2024. QED has invested £4.3 million in the construction of Meath Court, while Ealing Council covers the rent costs.

The units were built offsite by CargoTek, the specialist subcontractor of shipping container buildings, to meet a strict deadline. Meath Court also includes a communal space, onsite management office, laundry and refuse storage. All aspects of the development were constructed in 24 weeks.

Specified by QED, Panel Systems supplied 144 Aluglaze panels with externally projecting trays. The manufacturer fabricated the panels with an insulation core to achieve a 0.35W/m2K U-value.

The Aluglaze panels were supplied in five main colours, each of which was specified in various shades including three tones of green, blue and red and two tones of orange and yellow. Each block features one colour in the varying shades, achieving a dark to light rainbow effect.

Ross Gilbert, managing director of QED Sustainable Urban Developments said: “We originally looked at using opaque coloured glass to achieve the rainbow effect, however these would not provide the U-values required to ensure the homes were energy efficient. The extensive range of Aluglaze colours and finishes, along with Panel System’s fabricating capabilities, meant we were not only given a better choice of shades and a more premium finish, but the panels also provide better insulation and energy efficiency.”

Aluglaze is an insulated glazing infill panel comprising polyester coated aluminium bonded to a high performance insulation core and then balanced with either steel or aluminium.