Glass balconies a ‘big attraction’ for apartment buyers

Clear glass balconies supplied by Balconette have helped to transform the former HM Revenue & Customs’ local VAT office in West Hove into 28 high-spec luxury apartments. The £2 million conversion project of Martello House took a year to complete and was handed over to the client in August 2016. The transformed three-storey building features glass balconies on all the two-bedroomed and most of the one-bedroomed apartments. Balconette’s unique balustrading system meant that all the 28 balconies were constructed without using a single post, in true hybrid style, creating a seamless glass barrier. Planners stated that the existing façade required a substantial upgrade to improve both its appearance and thermal performance. This was achieved with vertical through-coloured fibre cement cladding in contrasting colours, which along with the new balconies, results in a building more akin to the appearance of a block of flats.

Incorporating French doors in place of smaller windows allow increased natural light into the apartments, as well as providing access to the new balconies and private patio areas of the ground floor residential units. Ellis Rodda, representative for developer Martin Homes explains that the glass balconies were a key part of the specification, adding that the ‘exterior changes result in a building which is more suited to residential occupation, as opposed to the previous office use’. He comments: “Glass was very much our preferred choice. The aesthetics are much nicer from the outside and residents can appreciate clear views from their living rooms. I can’t understand why you wouldn’t use glass for balustrading.”

Designed for commuters, young professionals and those looking to downsize, the Martello Lofts apartments had to be finished to the very high standards and virtually all are now sold. Julie Frith, director of Mishon Mackay New Homes adds: “The glass balustraded balconies were a big attraction for buyers; the clear glass and the seamless style with the chrome handrails made a very stylish statement and were an asset to this development.”