Projects highlight range of skills from Design Glass

From their Yorkshire workshop, Design Glass design, build and install all types of decorative glass - from a small front door panel to the largest of stained glass ceilings. From restoration and conservation, to new work - whether modern or traditional - they can accommodate any size of project.

Two very different examples of their work are evident in projects at Durham Castle and Liverpool Library.

Durham Castle is a Norman castle which was awarded the status of a World Heritage Site in 1986 - providing international recognition for this unique, historic and scenic site. Standing on a prominent hill top site the castle overlooks the medieval City of Durham.

Design Glass were approached by John Dutton of GSS Architecture to restore and refurbish the windows in The Great Hall and kitchens. The work included making a photographic record and a detailed written report of each window. The team at Design Glass made a careful record of the position of each individual piece of glass in the existing diamond ‘quarry’ lights. Each window was then carefully dismantled, repaired and re-leaded where necessary. All the steel openers were completely refurbished and made operational once again. The large north window, designed by C.E.Kempe to commemorate the University's fiftieth anniversary in 1882, was in need of cleaning. Working alongside a leading stained glass conservator, Design Glass undertook this very delicate and time consuming procedure.

For the project at Liverpool Library, Design Glass were contacted by a major contractor to restore two glass ceilings.

One, in the Hornby Room, was a traditional leaded glass ceiling that comprised six panes of curved glass glazed into wooden frames - of which there were five - giving a total of thirty lights for restoration. Some of these were in a very poor condition and in great danger of falling causing a great deal of damage and potential injury. They were also in need of a thorough clean as it would appear that the last time anyone was in the void above them was during the Second World War – this being evidenced by the galvanised sand buckets for extinguishing incendiary bombs!

This project involved working at a great height and obviously health and safety was a major concern. All the company's workers carry CSCS cards and in this case would not have been allowed to work with out them. After all safety induction processes were complete Design Glass were able to inspect the lights closely for the first time. They were please to advise that due to the method of installation they would, at no extra cost, be able to remove the wooden sub frames and complete the removal of the lights at their workshop. This was not only safer but enabled the frames to be more thoroughly restored by another contractor before the glazing was refitted.

As part of the contract, Design Glass carefully photographed each panel before dismantling and made careful note of any replaced glass, this after having supplied samples for approval prior to starting work.

All steel work was blast cleaned and powder coated and the steel sub frames of the ventilated panels repaired and similarly refinished before reinstallation.

They were able to devise a method of fixing these frames securely to the wooden sub frames to prevent the situation arising again whereby there was a danger of the panels falling out.

After installation it was possible to see this magnificent ceiling as it was originally intended.

The other ceiling is located in the Oak Room and comprised a steel frame with etched glass inserts. These in no way complied with any modern safety requirements and they undertook to source replacement glass that looked the same but which was, in fact, suitable for such applications. Design Glass supplied various samples and the client selected their recommendation which they duly installed. Once again it was a privilege to be able to see the completed installation which, with the addition of period lighting, looked superb.

To read about more projects undertaken by Design Glass, visit www.designglass.co.uk