See how this popular trend can be used in commercial settings, utilising glass roof systems to create innovative designs.
Glass Roofs
Glass roofs are a popular choice in commercial settings, often utilised to provide sky views and flood the spaces below with natural light throughout the daytime. Glass atrium design takes inspiration from glass roofs, whilst bringing a unique edge to act as a design feature in commercial settings.
The newly acquired Watford shopping centre has been renamed ‘Atria Watford’ by its new management, Global Mutual and Savills. The name of the shopping centre, formerly known as intu Watford, pays testament to the iconic atrium skylight designs which can be seen throughout the top floor of the expansive building.
The name atria sparks the image of a light-filled, bright space and that’s exactly what the Watford shopping centre is striving to achieve. Natural light is proven to enhance general wellness in commercial environments, making it the perfect addition to any retail space where visitors being in high spirits will generate business for the brands housed within the centre.
Traditionally, atriums were round structures with open roofs. In modern architecture, glass atriums are designed with frameless glass roofs to get the same striking effect, whilst protecting the space and people below from the elements. In the UK, open-air atriums would not be realistic for retail spaces due to the frequent rainfall. That is why frameless structural glazing is the preferred option, for a modern take on the ancient Roman trend.
Glass Atria
IQ use structural glazing to create roof glazing systems and glass atriums, due to its flexible nature. Structural glass can be used to create any number of bespoke shapes, sizes and designs. Our in house developed structural glazing system, Invisio, is the first fully thermally broken structural glazing system on the market, making it the perfect choice for achieving modern performance values without compromising on design.
Glass atrium design requires high levels of detailing and coordination, to engineer solutions that are both beautifully designed and functional. At IQ we understand the nature of architectural glazing and many of the systems we would use are developed specifically to push architectural boundaries whilst maintaining high thermal performances for the wider building envelope. Our specialist project management team, paired with our advanced team of designers, are equipped to take on complex projects of this nature.
Carly Coren
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