NEWS

Steel Windows and Doors by Clement Feature in Award-Winning Projects!

January 20th, 2025

This article was originally published in Conservation Heritage Journal. You can download the original article or view Clement Windows’ profile on the Conservation Heritage Journal website.

Surrey-based Clement Windows Group has had the privilege of manufacturing new steel-framed windows, doors and conservation rooflights for a number of award-winning commercial and residential projects in recent years.

Some of these projects are the recipients of major international awards and prestigious UK architectural awards, while others have been recognised on a more local level.

The UK construction industry has much to be proud of and celebrations of the varied projects, designs and products should be encouraged. Clement Windows Group has been a supporter of the Building Awards for the last eight years and in 2024, sponsored both the Contractor of the Year (up to £500m) and the Small Project of the Year (up to £5m) categories. The company was delighted to see a project featuring its own new steel windows included in the winners.

The Brewhouse, Malta – Award-winning project for ritchie*studio

Clement EB24 steel windows in the award-winning The Brewhouse in Malta.

Award-winning The Brewhouse in Malta was recently fitted with new EB24 steel windows manufactured by Clement Windows Group.

Architects ritchie*studio have been awarded, among others, International Project of the Year at the 2024 Building Awards, Best Use of Colour at the World Architecture Festival and Architectural Design – Mixed-Use Building at the Built Design Awards for their project, The Brewhouse and Trident Park.

Grade II listed, The Brewhouse, formerly known as Farsons Brewery was one of the first and finest examples of concrete reinforced Art Deco buildings on the island of Malta. Founded and designed by Lewis V Farrugia and William Binnie, the brewery originally opened in June 1950.

Recently part of a €86million redevelopment project, The Brewhouse has been reimagined by world-renowned, London-based ritchie*studio. Covering over 7,000 sq m of industrial space, the building now includes a dynamic and unique mix of office, food and beverage, retail, visitor experience and event space over seven floors.

In a building of such historical and architectural significance, it was imperative that the new windows were as close as possible in appearance to the originals, but it was also vital that they were able to deliver stringent thermal efficiency as the project was designed to meet the strictest of environmental codes.

Clement manufactured over 100 new steel-framed windows from the EB24 range featuring T bars and multi point locking. The windows, which also support the project’s emphasis on natural light, were painted RAL 9016 (Traffic White) to match the originals.

The new, double glazed steel windows by Clement at The Brewhouse have contributed to the building’s thermal efficiency and fill the interior with masses of natural light.

The new, double glazed steel windows by Clement at The Brewhouse have contributed to the building’s thermal efficiency and fill the interior with masses of natural light.

Ian Ritchie, Director of ritchie*studio commented: “Clement Windows provided the perfect steel window profile and workmanship to help restore this beautiful and iconic Maltese industrial Art Deco building.”

The Building Awards judges remarked on the project’s seamless blend of heritage and modernity and said: “This project meets all criteria with a stunning retrofit of an old brewery into working and leisure spaces, featuring a thermally active building system (TABS) and achieving a 55% reduction in whole life cycle CO2 emissions.”

Award-winning Waltham Forest Town Hall 

Another award-winning project that Clement has manufactured new steel windows for is Waltham Forest Town Hall. The project won both the RIBA East London Regional Award and was a Civic Trust Award winner in 2023.

This elegant, Grade II Listed Building is the headquarters of the London Borough of Waltham Forest Town Council. Designed by architect Philip Hepworth, construction began on the building in 1938, but was interrupted by the Second World War and not completed until 1942.

Clement W20 steel windows in Waltham Forest Town Hall, an award winning project.

Bespoke W20 steel windows by Clement at Waltham Forest Town Hall, winner of the RIBA East London Regional Award

Hawkins\Brown oversaw an extensive refurbishment programme on behalf of the Council and this included the replacement of all the original steel windows. Clement W20 steel windows were chosen as the right product. The new, top hung and side hung opening casements are painted RAL 9010 (Pure White) with complementary fittings in a dark bronze finish.

John Cattermole, Senior Project Manager at the Town Hall, commented: “The team at Clement provided a great service in supplying new windows as part of the Town Hall refurbishment. Very specific aesthetic and energy performance criteria needed to be met when it came to the window replacement. The W20 windows supplied by Clement were able to meet all of these requirements.”

RIBA commended the project for being a tasteful, sensitive and innovative reinvention of a historic building, delivering flexibility of use while preserving and enhancing the existing features and involving the local community, thereby successfully promoting social and heritage values for generations to come.

Clement windows in award-winning project Waltham Forest Town Hall.

The new windows were a modernisation for the Town Hall, but remained true to the original aesthetic while improving the energy performance of the building.

RIBA award-winner – The Old Court House, West Midlands

The Old Court House was another RIBA winner taking home three awards at the RIBA West Midlands Awards in 2018: Project Architect of the Year, West Midlands Award and West Midlands Conservation Award. The project was also shortlisted for Grand Designs ‘House of the Year’ in the same year.

This 500-year-old, Grade II listed property is located on a large, private farm in the West Midlands. The farm had been purchased with a number of outline consents for the conversion of the various farm buildings into habitable dwellings and staff accommodation, but these consents were all linked to the repair of one particular building on the site, The Old Court House.

In the words of the architects, Harrison Brookes, The Old Court House was more “ecosystem” than building. Derelict for over 30 years, it was close to collapse and on the Buildings at Risk register. It was home to bats, newts, slow worms and badgers and its location on the edge of several Sites of Special Scientific Interest presented further challenges.

Clement windows featured in RIBA award-winning project, The Old Court House, West Midlands.

The Old Court House, Worcestershire, post renovation project. Photos courtesy of Harrison Brookes Architects.

The Local Planning Authority had placed a Section 106 agreement on the property detailing its rescue from dereliction and was preparing to increase its listing status to Grade I as it was rumoured to be a hunting lodge gifted by Queen Elizabeth I to Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. Dating carried out during the course of the works confirmed that the building had been constructed in phases between 1526 and 1613.

A team which included the owner, the architects, Speller Metcalfe Contractors and specialist engineers, geologists, archaeologists and ecologists, worked closely to bring the house back to life using a range of conservation skills and employing specially made components (bricks and tiles)
combined with modern technologies. Clement was approached to supply the roof windows from the Clement 3 range of Conservation Rooflights in a tile profile to be in keeping with the property’s appearance.

Today, The Old Court House has been remodelled into a stunning 4-5 bedroom house and is a wonderful balance of the old and the new making it a worthy recipient of so many awards.

Rhys Brookes from Harrison Brookes Architects commented: “This Grade II Listed Building was in a dilapidated state and required meticulous and painstaking reconstruction. The inclusion of Clement’s Conservation Rooflights helped us to stay true to the original character of the property whilst also meeting the demands of Building Regulations.”

Clement project the Old Court House.

Exterior of The Old Court House before renovation. Photography by Roy Hunt (https://www.gardenmediaguild.co.uk/guildmembers/directory/profile/Roy-Hunt/486).

Clement Windows Group manufactures an innovative range of steel windows, steel doors and steel screens for both private residences and commercial projects. Based just outside London, in Surrey, Clement also supplies conservation rooflights, available from stock or made bespoke to individual requirements, in either a tile or a slate profile.

To speak to us about your upcoming project, contact us today. We’d love to hear from you!