Cranleigh School Curved Glass Balustrade War Memorial

Project

Cranleigh School in conjunction with Nye Architects, Nicholas Dimbleby and Ion Glass

Products:

Bespoke frameless glass balustrade with curved glass panels, custom channel set for a minimal result

Overview:

Ion Glass was commissioned to install a magnificent sweep of curved glass balustrade to surround the war memorial which creates an imposing and poignant focal point at the entrance to Cranleigh School.

At the heart of the memorial is a sculpture created by leading British sculptor Nicholas Dimbleby, a former pupil at the school, to mark both the centenary of the first day of the Battle of the Somme and the end of the school’s 150th year. 

Entitled ‘Leaving’, the  three metre high sculpture is surrounded by a sweep of glass panels, featuring  the names of the 382 former pupils who have fallen in battle during the history of the school.

Fully frameless, the glass panels have no handrail and are channel set, offering minimal visual distraction from the statue itself. 

Each name is clearly visible, with the school’s crest prominently displayed at the front of the installation.

Technical Information:

This frameless glass balustrade consists of 8 panels of 21.5 mm toughened and laminated glass, providing a structural barrier around the perimeter of the war memorial. With no protective handrail it was important that each glass panel should have perfectly polished edges, with cut, curved and polished corners.

Each bespoke glass panel is resin bonded into an aluminium channel set into the retaining wall structure, fully concealed by the stone copping. Precise measurements, accurate manufacture and careful installation by Ion’s experienced technicians ensure that the curved glass panels form a continuous sweep, evenly spaced just 20mm apart to allow for effective cleaning.

A glass manifestation was commissioned to include each individual name and the school crest.  The result fully replicates engraved glass without potential mishap or damage to the integrity of the glass panels.

Comments:

Paul Howlett of Ion Glass states ‘This was a wonderful project to be involved with, creating such a poignant and impressive result.  Working with Nicholas Dimbleby is inspiring and we were proud to see our work as part of this timeless memorial, prominently featured at the entrance to Cranleigh School.’