When it came to balcony design, architects kept telling us the same thing.
They told us they wanted to soften the edges of their buildings, that they were growing tired of the ‘blockiness’ of modern-day façades. They wanted their façades to seem elegant and intriguing, to be inviting and humble as well as eye-catching. They wanted to imbue their façades with smooth, flowing curves and rounded features that would set them apart from other mid- and high-rise buildings.
Seeing their sketches, we started to notice the same elements appearing again and again. Rounded corners, swooping gables and – perhaps most prominent of all – curved balconies.
Unfortunately, curved features are almost always more expensive in construction. This is because they typically require bespoke engineering solutions to manufacture.
On large-scale mid- and high-rise development projects, this scale of bespoke production would regularly send projects over budget.
As a result, curved features were usually the first things to be rationalised out in the name of cost savings.
Still, this didn’t seem to deter architects, who kept pushing for their vision.
Inspired by their aspirations, we set about creating a system that would enable us to mass produce curved balconies.
This was easier said than done. Even in a factory setting, manufacturing a curved balcony would ordinarily mean re-calibrating machines, hand-finishing certain components and designing entirely new structural elements.
That’s saying nothing of the complications when it comes to connecting a balcony. Curved balconies do not always lend themselves to a simple hoist, nor do they promise to sit flush against the slab edge.
Repeatability was the key consideration. We needed a way to ensure we could introduce curves to our balconies in a way that was scalable, cost-effective and consistent with our connection strategies.
At first, the solution seemed simple. We’d need to find a way to cut balcony parts to consistent, curved shapes.
But the real complexity lay in ensuring these curved balconies could perform against our high engineering standards:
All of this, plus the most important factor: the balconies needed to work with Sapphire’s patented and trademarked connection systems (Glide-On™, Clip-On™ and our latest innovation, the Remote Locker Device), each designed to accelerate installation and ensure a strong, lasting connection.
The solution lay in a compromise.
While a fully rounded balcony may have compromised the performance of our Cassette™ and undermined the performance of our connection and drainage systems, we found we could achieve a similar aesthetic by replacing right angles with radius corners.
Not only did this option ensure no substantial loss of space, it also worked with our existing Cassette™ structure (after a couple of modifications to the modular structure). This meant we could connect the balcony using our established installation systems, ensuring consistent, streamlined performance.
Better yet, we achieved an equally stable structure with both 600mm and 1200mm rounded corners, allowing us to offer a range of curved corners to suit different aesthetic tastes.
Curving the balconies around the corners proved to be not only the less complex, more affordable and more repeatable option, the shape was instantly remarkable and reminiscent of the sought-after Art Deco style of the early 20th century.
It was the ideal solution – and thus, our Crescent™ Corner balcony was born.
When it comes to manufacturing, Crescent™ Corner balconies are not dissimilar to our other balconies.
They can be fabricated off-site, are made predominantly of aluminium and arrive ready-to-install with soffits, balustrades and handrails already assembled. They can then be attached by any of our existing installation systems, including our Tie Rod design.
Crescent™ Corner balconies even benefit from the same wide range of design options available with any other Sapphire balcony, so you can choose between vertical bar balustrades and solid wall balustrades, all in an endless variety of colours.
See for yourself: discover the design options available with our Balcony Visualiser. (Remember to choose ‘Crescent Corner’ in the Cassette™ options.)
This variability ensures the Crescent™ Corner system can support your design aspirations, while also allowing the balconies to be mass-produced at an affordable scale. It allows developers to get creative with shape, without compromising other aspects of their scheme.
Crescent™ Corner isn’t just a design idea. It’s a buildable, repeatable system that works within real project constraints.
Like many innovations, the story of Crescent™ Corner stemmed from a real-world need.
While looking to deliver 110 affordable new homes to the City of London Corporation and Lovell Homes, HawkinsBrown and CZWG architects approached Sapphire with a unique aspiration. They sought to ensure their balconies not only offered residents ample space and sweeping views of London, but that their designs provided aesthetic nuance and complemented the leafy, organic situ of Sydenham Hill.
They had their hearts set on a curved design for their balconies, and it was here that Sapphire began work on developing a system to meet their needs. Our aim was not simply to create a manufacturing system that aligned with our Remote Locker Device installation methodology, but to impress our customers with an elegant, striking design that would stand the test of time.
As early as it was conceived, Crescent™ Corner was tested in the market on a live scheme. Our innovation came to life at Sydenham Hill, London, and immediately proved its viability in the market, proving affordable while achieving the desired aesthetic.
Curves matter. When you choose a non-standard design for your balconies, you’re adding architectural panache to the built environment. You’re breaking up the ubiquity of angular balconies that have become a staple in cities like London and Dublin.
Crescent™ Corner balconies aren’t right for every project – and that’s a good thing. It means the ones that can utilise them will stand out from the rest, creating unique points of intrigue on the urban skyline.
If you’re looking to enhance a façade with incurring added expenditure, Crescent™ Corner makes curves a realistic option once more. There’s no longer any need to treat curves as a bespoke geometry. Sapphire’s modular system helps you achieve repeatability at scale.
If you’re considering curved balconies for your next project, Sapphire’s Crescent™ Corner system could help you to create remarkable designs at an affordable price. Speak to us today to learn more.
