April Fools!
As you might have imagined, attaching a balcony to a hot air balloon is a little far-fetched. But there’s a grain or two of truth in what we’ve shown off.
Balconies as light as air
Our Next Generation balcony system is designed to be as lightweight as possible in order to reduce the carbon footprint of our product. So, whilst it might not be light enough to be carried by hot air alone, there are numerous benefits to using a lightweight material like aluminium.
We’ve reduced the amount of material in our balconies compared to our standard Glide-On Cassette®, meaning the amount of embodied carbon is reduced as a result. Furthermore, thanks to the lighter-weight Cassette® of the Next Generation Balcony, we’re able to transport more balconies to the site in a single journey, further reducing the embodied carbon footprint of your project.
As an extra benefit, the light weight of the Next Generation Balcony Cassette® means that we’ve further reduced the weight on your building’s structure. This means fewer penetrations in the building façade, less risk of thermal bridging and a more energy-efficient building for both you and your end-users.
Huntley Wharf, Reading
You might have spotted a nod to Huntley Wharf in the Balloon video, a Berkeley development we’re incredibly pleased to have been a part of. Using our Next Generation balcony suite, we were able to help developers Berkeley Group and architects PRP Architects streamline by innovation and bring this site in our headquarter town of Reading to life.
The collaboration focused on integrating the balconies seamlessly with the building facade, by manufacturing offsite brick columns for corner balconies, inset balconies and balconies with brick slip fascias.
One of the project’s major constraints was the proximity of one of the tower crane locations to a stack of balconies. Sapphire’s site support team devised an inventive solution, proposing the use of a compact spider crane to install the balconies from below.
Through early and proactive engagement with project stakeholders, we ensured that the balconies contributed meaningfully to the architectural narrative, enhancing the living experience and honouring the site’s rich heritage.
Until next year…
Did we fool you? Or are you just eager to hear more about a lightweight balcony system for your next development?
Either way, get in touch with us to book a free design meeting, learn more via one of our expert CPDs or even just to say hello! Contact Us