Courtyard Balustrade

Context

A new residential courtyard steps down in three terraces towards a communal garden. The landscape architect has chosen pale natural stone and wants the guarding to feel like part of the landscape rather than a railing added at the end.

Constraints

The stone is laid before the balustrade is fixed, so every fixing has to be drilled into finished, expensive surfaces. The run changes level six times and turns four corners. Residents move in while the last section is still being installed.

Scope

Around 42 metres of brushed stainless steel posts with clamped glass infill and a continuous handrail, including raking sections on the steps and two gates to the garden. Fabrication, installation and coordination with the stone and glazing trades.

Process

We set out every post position with the landscape contractor before the stone was cut, so joints could be planned around the fixings instead of the other way round. Templates were used to core-drill each hole, and posts were fixed with a resin anchor and a cover plate that sits flush with the stone. Handrail sections were bent in the workshop from a digital survey of the completed steps, which kept site welding to a minimum.

The two garden gates are self-closing and swing away from the steps, with hinges and latches chosen from the same stainless range as the posts so the run reads as one piece. Installation moved terrace by terrace, and each completed section was protected with boarding until the landscape contractor finished cleaning the stone. Residents kept a safe route to the entrance at every stage.

Handover

The managing agent receives a layout drawing with every post numbered, the glass and clamp specification for future replacements, and simple cleaning guidance for stainless steel in an external environment.