Gilberts helps Gleneagles deliver understated luxury in historic setting

One of the world’s most iconic hotel brands is diversifying into the city with the opening of the Gleneagles Townhouse. The air of understated luxury which will pervade all areas of the historic building will come courtesy of Gilberts’ ventilation control throughout the guest areas.

In St Andrew Square, a world heritage site in the heart of Edinburgh, the new venue features 33 individually-designed bedrooms, an all-day restaurant, members club, roof terrace and spa & wellness centre, carefully created within the Grade A listed building to preserve the classical architecture dating back to the 1850s. 

Environmental Design Consultants Atelier Ten had to design the ventilation solution with care to deliver the levels of fresh air necessary in the boutique hotel environment without adversely impacting on the elaborate plasterwork and interior décor. It turned to Gilberts (Blackpool) to deliver.

Air supply has been achieved through a combination of DGA louvre face diffusers (plaster-in version), and LGN linear bar grilles with concealed fixing in runs up to 2m long. The combination ensures compliant levels of ventilation with a discreet visual appearance and clean horizontal air distribution pattern.

Linear bar grilles and GECA egg crate grilles return the air for extraction through to WGC external louvres discreetly integrated into the windows. In its in-house state of the art powder-coating facility, Gilberts finished many of the grilles satin black, chosen to deceive the eye and blend the grilles into the interior décor. Toilet areas feature Gilberts’ GX air valves. 

Gilberts’ Ductgard fire and smoke dampers and associated controls complete the portfolio of solutions. Ductgard has been specifically engineered to provide up to four hours’ protection against smoke and fire, in one unit, in most ductwork. Fully tested, it has BS EN1366-2 certification. Mechanical contractor Arthur McKay undertook the installation.

Invisible element

Atelier Ten comments: “It was critical that we extended due consideration to the quality and history of the setting, whilst designing a solution that met – or exceeded – modern day demands.

“We have a history ourselves of using Gilberts, with only positive experience of its quality- of product and back-up. We knew Gilberts would help us fulfil the brief and be able to deliver a complete package of fresh air, smoke/fire protection and associated controls. Being able to address this aspect from one, reliable source was a major benefit.”

Lee Doherty, Arthur McKay Project Manager, adds: “It was inevitably a difficult project because of the need to protect and preserve the interior building fabric. We were able to install Gilberts’ grilles and diffusers easily and discreetly so that the ventilation became an invisible element.”

Contact:

Gilberts of Blackpool,
Gilair Works,
Clifton Road,
Blackpool,
FY4 40T

Phone: 01253 766911
Fax: 01253 767941

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