Lodha Project Demands Perfectly Flat Limestone Terraces

Lodha UK’s Lincoln Square in Holborn, London, is a high-end residential development delivered by a world-class team of architects and designers.

Every inch of the 200-plus apartments and 17,000ft2 of private residents’ facilities have been precisely curated to ensure the design and finish are of the highest quality befitting the high net-worth individuals the scheme is aimed at – a four-bed penthouse sells for around £14.5 million.

From a design by PLP Architecture, courtyard landscaping by award-winning international practice Gustafson Porter, interiors by Bowler James Brindley and amenity spaces created by in-demand designer Patricia Urquiola, all elements of the scheme are designed and executed to deliver exceptional quality, finish and amenity.

Located on an island site adjacent to Lincoln’s Inn Fields and the London School of Economics, Lincoln Square has views of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Cheesegrater, Shard, Gherkin and the Royal Courts of Justice. It is these prized skyline views that terraces within the development make the most of, with hi-spec limestone suspended paving areas providing a luxury outdoor living.

Key to the success of these terraces was a perfectly flat finish to the 50mm thick limestone paving – and that’s where Wallbarn’s self-levelling Balance pedestals provided a robust, quick and easy solution that enabled specialist contractors to press ahead confident in the pedestals’ performance and the customer service delivered by Wallbarn.

Tilt and level
The Wallbarn Balance system was specified specifically for its self-levelling abilities. The units are designed to tilt at the head in all directions in order to accommodate differences in the deck surface below, for example, laps and joints or imperfections in the concrete slab, while at the same time maintaining a perfectly flat surface.

Positioning lugs fit around the corner of each slab to create uniform spacing and tight, secure positioning. When tiling up to parapets the lugs can be removed to ensure the slab is properly supported at the edge. The pedestals allow drainage between each slab, significantly reducing slip hazards and improving the performance of the roof deck.

As the deck falls towards a roof outlet the pedestals can be twisted to increase their height, and the angle of the headpiece adjusts to ensure a flat upper surface. The cavity below suspended paving is ideal for routing pipes and services without interrupting drainage or spoiling the aesthetic.

Each Balance pedestal has an individual weight tolerance of 683kg, so can easily bear the weight of planters and other terrace furniture, and is tested to temperatures of +75°C and -40°C. Installation is quick and easy and, being a fully suspended system, slabs can be lifted, repositioned and removed at any time as required.

Julian Thurbin, Wallbarn Director, said the Balance system provided a fantastic solution for laying superior quality suspended paving systems:

“The Lincoln Square project demanded high quality and incredible attention to detail throughout – and this included ensuring paving on the rooftop terraces was completely flat and safe. Our Balance pedestals were perfect for the project and we worked closely with the specialist contractor installing the paving to ensure all technical needs were met and product was on site when required, in some cases on a same-day delivery basis to prevent on-site delays. It was a great project to be involved with and showed just what can be achieved, transforming outdoor spaces into beautiful living areas.”

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