The new £10 Million Shoreline Hotel is expected to bring a wealth of new holidaymakers to the Bognor Regis resort, with bookings currently being taken for June 2005 onwards. Set in beautifully landscaped gardens and located directly on the seafront, the hotel will have 160 rooms stretched over 4 floors, with three grades of bedroom to choose from. It will also feature a lounge bar, restaurants and sun terraces.

Henry Jones, part of the Kier Group, the main building contractor for the project, appointed Horndean based Blendworth Windows Ltd to the task of supplying and fitting all the windows for the new hotel, having recently worked successfully with the company on a luxury new-built extension to the Warner Holidays Sinah Warren Hotel on Hayling Island. Having viewed the detailed design plans for the hotel, Bob Cummins, Managing Director of Blendworth Windows, suggested Pilkington Activ™ as the ideal solution for the glazed areas of the building: "Over half the building is glazed to produce the atmosphere of light and space that the designers wanted to achieve. Having seen what Pilkington Activ™ can do, and how much less ongoing maintenance it means for the end customer, we offered the product to the main contractor as a huge additional benefit, and they agreed with us that it was perfect for the hotel."

Due to the high level of glazing used in the design of the hotel, it was important to both the architect and main contractor to achieve excellent thermal efficiency for the windows and doors, with a U-value of 1.1 the ultimate target. Horndean Glass & Glazing was chosen by Blendworth Windows to supply Pilkington Insulight™ double glazed units. To achieve both the desired level of thermal efficiency and excellent sound insulation, the units are laminated and coated with Pilkington Optitherm™ SN on the inner pane and then filled with argon gas. Pilkington Activ™ is used on the outer pane of each unit to provide self-cleaning properties. The patio doors, which are also fitted with Pilkington Activ™ glass, are being provided by KAT UK.

Bob Cummins of Blendworth Windows comments: "The hotel is progressing rapidly now, with the first floor now completed and signed off and the rest due to be completed by late Spring. It is going to be a stunning building with a fantastic aspect - it literally looks like the hotel is sailing right out to sea. We are very pleased with how well the project is coming together and both Henry Jones and PWP Architects agree that Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass is an inspired choice for the building. Right next to the sea, the hotel will enjoy the exact weather conditions needed to help the glass work to its full effect."

Developed in the UK by Pilkington and launched following extensive field and laboratory testing, Pilkington Activ™ literally keeps itself clean by harnessing the two natural elements of ultra violet light and rain. The technology uses UV light to break down organic dirt deposits on the glass, then uses the rain to wash the dirt away.

NB A product featured, Pilkington Optitherm™ SN, has been discontinued since supply of this project but alternative products are available - for more information on low emissivity glass  please call the Pilkington Technical Helpline on 01744 692000.