Bespoke Markilux Solution for Listed Penthouse – Chelsea, London

The Challenge: A Complex Project Others Turned Down

When Aquarius Blinds received the call from a private client regarding their penthouse on Manresa Road in Chelsea, we knew immediately this would be no straightforward project.

The property, a stunning listed building undergoing major refurbishment, presented a challenge that several larger manufacturers had already walked away from.

The client’s south-facing terrace was completely exposed to and unprotected from intense solar heat, rendering the space hard to face during the peak of summer. Solving this required addressing two key roadblocks:

1. Dimensions: The penthouse featured exceptional ceiling heights with doors exceeding 3 metres, leaving the south-facing terrace completely exposed to intense solar heat.
2. Restrictions: The structure was a Grade II listed building, which meant that we were prohibited from fixing anything directly to the building’s facade.

Manufacturers who had tended for the work had simply walked away, unable to provide a viable solution within these constraints.

The property was in the midst of extensive works with the London-based LDB Construction UK Ltd managing the wider refurbishment project. The client needed a high-quality, reliable solar shading solution that would integrate seamlessly with the building’s architecture whilst respecting its heritage status.

The Site: Restrictions Aplenty

Our initial survey revealed the full complexity of the project, and why others had declined the tender. The penthouse terrace stretched across the front elevation with 13 metres of coverage required across three separate areas. Off-the-shelf products were immediately out of the question.

The door heights, whilst architecturally impressive, exceeded the capacity of standard awning systems, and the listed building restrictions ruled out conventional wall-mounting solutions entirely.

Working alongside the main contractor during the construction phase, we needed to devise a solution that could be engineered, approved, and installed in stages without disrupting the ongoing refurbishment works.

The terrace itself would need to support a substantial freestanding framework capable of bearing the structural loads of three independent awning systems, whilst maintaining the client’s desired aesthetic.

The Execution: Commercial-Level Precision

Once approval was secured, we worked in close coordination with LDB Construction to deliver the installation over a 14-month period, during the pandemic.

Phase 1: Working within the contractor’s timeline and capacity, we installed the prefabricated Syncra structural framework during the main construction phase, allowing the terrace finishes to be completed around and beneath the system. Care was taken to ensure loadings were correctly distributed. Each support post was positioned, levelled, and secured to the terrace deck with specialist fixings designed to handle the wind and operational loads.

Phase 2: With the framework secure and the main refurbishment works nearing completion, we returned for the final installation phase.

• The three individual Markilux 6000 cassette awnings were crane-lifted to the penthouse terrace
• Our team worked carefully to position the awnings onto the waiting and fully-installed Syncra framework.
• We worked methodically to align each awning for perfect synchronisation across the full width of the terrace. The electrical connections were integrated and the sensors were calibrated, before the client was given a full handover demonstration.

The entire project, from initial consultation to final commissioning, was completed within the timeframe.

The Result: A Dramatic Aesthetic and Functional Improvement

The finished product completely transformed the client’s penthouse terrace. Where previously the space had been, at times, unusable during intense, hot weather, especially with no cloud cover, the client now enjoys fully controllable solar shading across the entire front elevation.

The Markilux 6000 awnings, with their sleek architectural profile, complement the contemporary refurbishment whilst the freestanding Syncra framework respects the building’s listed status.

The client was delighted with both the solution and our approach throughout the project. They appreciated our willingness to embrace a technically challenging brief that others had declined, our transparent communication during the design and approval process, and our professional coordination with the wider construction team.

The system performs exactly as specified, providing reliable solar protection whilst maintaining the clean aesthetic lines that define the property.