were involved in the complex three-year renovation of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. The ‘Open Up’ project had a team of over 30 contractors led by architects Stanton Williams and its aim was to enhance the experience for the public, staff and performers at the Opera House.

As part of the multi-million-pound renovation, the upper floor bar and the restaurant was completely renovated and included various elements of bespoke glazing from IQ.

The Bar Level 5 overlooks the stunning Paul Hamlyn Hall and as such, the user view from the upper floor balconies was extremely important in the design. IQ designed a series of bespoke single glazed sliding partitions to protect the external eating area from the elements whilst maintaining all views out over the courtyard below. The simple yet effective glazing design is nearly imperceptible from the ground level, ensuring that the design of this historical building is not affected adversely.

Various other bespoke glazing designs were created throughout the upper floor restaurant and bar to enclose the space for year-round use. In addition, a bespoke roof glazing solution was designed to match a small section of existing roof. Within the structural glass roof sits a number of venting opening rooflights that operate on an automated system for ventilation. The inclusion of these framed opening elements within the structural glass roof design required careful consideration in terms of both the visual appearance of the roof glazing but also the electrics, operation and maintenance.

A real eye-catching feature of the Royal Opera House restaurant is the three structural glass Oriel Windows to the external building envelope. These bespoke structural glass elements protrude from the skin of the internal restaurant out into the balcony area. All glass areas will be used for luxury seating locations and allow users to sit inside whilst enjoying the feeling of being out. As experts in structural glazing IQ fully designed and detailed each of these bespoke elements, ensuring a minimal design and elegant interfaces between the glass and existing building finishes.

Bespoke steel framed screens and doors provide access from the balcony to the kitchen and restaurant. The metal framed doors were finished in a specialist metallic powder coated finish to give the appearance of bronze without the additional cost and arduous aftercare. The pull handles on each door were a bespoke bronze design and this small detail created a feeling of elegance and luxury to what could have been simple passage doors.

The overall glazing project at the Royal Opera House required lots of careful planning and close communication between the contracts team here at IQ, the contractors and the architects to ensure a well thought out finish. The resulting project has received astounding feedback from both the Opera House and the general public and IQ were proud to be part of such an interesting construction.

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