COVERS COVER CENTURIES

Combining 14th century architecture with 21st century floor access covers to create extraordinary harmony has recently been achieved by Ely Cathedral architects Purcell Miller Triton. Ely, the largest collection of medieval non-secular buildings still in daily use, has introduced underfloor heating to the Lady Chapel. At the same time, a spectacular new floor has been laid in Purbeck marble, to reflect the original material which had been lost and changed since the Chapel was originally completed in 1349. The problem for the architects was how to access underfloor heating controls in the most harmonious and sensitive way. This has been cleverly achieved by commissioning Howe Green to manufacture access covers to a precise size so that the showedges mirror exactly the joints of the slabs and do not impinge on the pattern. Because each cover is inset with matching marble, and perfectly flush with the floor, it is virtually invisible when closed. Howe Green covers are used with every type of hard flooring or flexible floorcovering. Covers are purpose-made in aluminium or stainless steel to fit any module or opening. They are maintenance free, easy to open and double sealed to resist ingress of dirt or cleaning liquids and corrosion. Showedges can be aluminium, brass, stainless steel or high impact pvc in various colours.