Sapphire Balustrades has combined beautiful balustrades with best value at an award-winning development by Jessup in the West Midlands. Balconies for canal-side apartments at Walsall Waterfront South incorporate Sapphire’s new Aluma semi-frameless aluminium and glass balustrades. With this innovative design option, glass infill panels simply slot into Aluma balusters uprights and/or handrail profiles, removing the clutter of traditional patch lugs and leaving a sleek, crisp appearance.

Sapphire’s new-look Aluma satisfied the requirements of both architect and developer, providing a cost-effective solution with the aesthetic styling of a structural glass balustrade and the long lasting, low maintenance benefits of high grade aluminium.

Jessup worked with Staffordshire-based architects S P Faizey and Sapphire to create balustrades for full and Juliette balconies to complement the development’s mix of one and two bedroom apartments. According to the project’s architect, Sapphire’s new semi-frameless Aluma replicates the look of a much more expensive system. He comments: “Balconies are a popular trend for new homes, particularly in high rise apartments where outdoor space is often limited. With no obvious glass fixings Sapphire’s Aluma balustrades really enhance the look of Walsall Waterfront South and give residents clear views over the water. In fact, Sapphire has proved such a success here that we’ve already specified their balustrades for other projects.”

Sapphire’s Aluma balustrades have been used for over 250 balconies on four of the residential buildings at Walsall Waterfront South. The project involved a variety of balcony types and sizes, including some with curved glass balustrades, a requirement which posed no problem for Sapphire’s glass design expertise. The aluminium balusters are finished in grey powder coating to match other elements of the facades. Sapphire manufactured and installed the balustrades as part of a complete project package: Juliette balconies are fixed to the buildings’ steel framework while full balconies are top fixed to the balcony base.

Since construction began on the phased development in 2010, Walsall Waterfront South has received a Southern Staffordshire Design Award and been successful in two categories in the National Waterways Renaissance Awards. The project plays an integral part in creating a vibrant canal-side quarter in a rejuvenated Walsall.

Aluma balustrades, Jessup canal-side development

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