KINGFISHER LOUVRES PROVIDE A PERFECT SOLUTION FOR A TRIO OF HOTEL REFURBISHMENTS

Jo Foulkes, Commercial Operations Manager from Kingfisher Louvres, explains how its practical solutions have been used in three different hotel refurbishments. 

When it comes to hotel design, external louvres need to perfectly balance performance attributes such as weather protection, ventilation and acoustic attenuation without detracting from the exterior aesthetic. From boutique city centre venues to luxury countryside resorts, hotels need extensive plant equipment and, with the right louvre solutions, they can remain out of view from hotel guests. 

Acoustic design to help guests sleep soundly

Kingfisher Louvres supplied more than 600 acoustic louvre modules and over 1,600 metres of screening louvre blade as part of the award-winning redevelopment of One Berkeley Street in central London. This major, mixed-use scheme incorporates a luxury hotel and sits directly opposite The Ritz in the heart of the Mayfair conservation area. 

For this complex and high-profile project, Kingfisher worked in partnership with main contractor DE Group Contracting and Allford Hall Monaghan Morris architects to develop a louvre solution that would effectively screen the rooftop plant equipment while also providing the necessary acoustic performance to minimise noise from HVAC systems.

Kingfisher’s KA acoustic louvre modules were selected to meet the varying sound attenuation needs across the roofscape, offering permanent ventilation combined with airborne sound reduction. A combination of more than 600 KA150/20 and KA270/20 modules were supplied in a RAL 7047 matt finish, along with 1,600 metres of KC120 screening louvres. 

Bespoke penetrations were also required through some of the acoustic louvres to allow for a man-safe support system, which meant that each penetration needed a specially designed unit.

Screening plant equipment for aesthetic exteriors

As part of the landmark £80 million redevelopment and expansion programme at the Belfry Hotel & Resort in Sutton Coldfield, Kingfisher provided bespoke screening louvre solutions for the ballroom and conference suite, tailored to the venue’s exacting standards. 

The team supported façade contractor ALD Group with the bespoke louvre design, which was intended to complement the architectural character of the existing building while meeting new sustainability targets. Kingfisher supplied its KC120 screening louvres in RAL 9005 Jet Black to discreetly shield the equipment, along with four custom KW30Z flanged frames. Kingfisher’s technical sales team and design engineer played a key role in the early design and procurement stages, collaborating with ALD to provide specialist product guidance. This prestigious project has been designed and built to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.

Bespoke solutions that don’t compromise aesthetics

Providing ventilation and screening plant equipment is a key function of louvres but they don’t need to be completely invisible – with the right design the louvres can also subtly enhance a hotel’s exterior aesthetic. 

One example of this in action can be found at the Hilton Garden Inn, a six-storey hotel with a rooftop terrace situated on the Hamilton Straight at Silverstone. The lower levels of the hotel provide commercial and retail spaces as well as housing the plant areas that could not be positioned on the rooftop, while the first floor accommodates the hospitality suites, restaurant, private dining, and track-facing terraces. It’s so close to the course that some of its 197 rooms overlook the track, so aesthetics were an important part of the brief.

Kingfisher worked closely with contractor Metclad to complete the complex installation of 1,800m of KW75Z single bank louvre blades, powder coated to RAL 7047 matt. The louvres formed three parallelogram shapes on the ground floor of the hotel which provided ventilation and screening of the plant equipment. 

Together with 170 mullions and five double door sets, also powder coated to the same grey colour, they provide a good level of weather protection to the plant equipment as well as the required ventilation, while also being part of a unique design that reflects the hotel’s surroundings and key trackside position.

Part of the Building Product Design group and sister company to Glidevale Protect and Passivent, Kingfisher Louvres offers a comprehensive collection of high-quality, extruded aluminium louvre systems. Its product range features weather, screening, and acoustic louvres, as well as framed louvres, and louvred doors, all designed to deliver exceptional performance for ventilation, screening, weather protection and aesthetic integration.

Collaboration is a crucial part of any project and from design development to manufacture and delivery, Kingfisher Louvres works in close partnership with its clients. The team supports specifiers and contractors to meet the specific requirements of each individual project brief to provide perfectly tailored solutions. 

www.kingfisherlouvres.com