West Port’s wildlife window shows the versatility of timber
Posted on 08/03/2018
An ingenious bat-friendly window designed and manufactured by West Port has allowed a major housing project to continue unhindered.
A collaboration between Speller Metcalfe and Linden Homes, the Victory Fields development has seen the transformation of decommissioned Gloucestershire air force base Little Rissington into a collection of luxurious homes – but the venture hasn’t been without its challenges.
While converting the base’s Officer’s Mess building, builders discovered that large numbers of bats had taken up residence in the attic. Bats and their roosts are protected by strict conservation legislation, making attempting to remove the animals or their nests a criminal offense – which left developers in need of a creative solution.
Enter timber fenestration experts West Port, who immediately began designing a way around the problem.
The bats had to be left with free run of the attic, but the building still needed extensive renovation. The result was a unique bat-friendly timber window – still stunning to look at, and offering outstanding all-round performance, but incorporating a gap large enough for bats to fly in and out of.
What’s more, the attic space will require regular cleaning and observation by ecologists – meaning the window had to be designed to open like a door, allowing for easy access.
“This project perfectly demonstrates the benefits of being able to combine state-of-the-art modern production with decades of bespoke joinery expertise,” comments Commercial Sales Director Ken Mercer. “We met with the client, assessed their needs, and got to work producing an elegant solution that met those requirements exactly. It’s the kind of exceptional service we pride ourselves on.
“We’d be delighted to hear from any property developers, housebuilders, main contractors, architects and others interested in learning what West Port can do for you and your next project.”
For more information contact West Port on 01900 814225 or visit http://www.west-port.co.uk/