EXPRESS GLASS: PORTFOLIO: OLD EDGECLIFF PO NSW

Glass is one of the most useful materials for architects seeking to establish a contemporary look for a heritage-listed building without destroying the character that gave the building its original charm.

The old Edgecliff Post Office building, on the corner of New South Head Road and Ocean Streets, is a prime example of this aesthetic approach. The building features rich, classic red brickwork, with period sand-stone window and doorframes. These core materials gave architect Glen Gilsenan much to work with and the incorporation of cutting-edge glazing in the doors, windows and internal partitions gives the mid-20th century building a very 21st century feel.

The front entry features the sleek, new and super-smooth Dorma Monet sliding door system, employing frameless 12mm tough-ened glass. The 'cleanness' and subtlety of the entry's glazing and doors allows the sandstone framing to become the focus and feature of the entry - maintaining heritage cues.

Inside, 6mm toughened safety glass with a special painted finish is used on the lift housing and frameless partitions and doors (sliding and pivot) abound, hung from the slab ceilings and secured by glass 'fins' and rails that clamp to the glass. Some frameless doors leading to meeting rooms feature inbuilt electric locks.

Express glazier, Reece Van Vliet, completed a lot of the more complex glazing work, over a construction period of about 12 months.