Glass balustrades for disabled access ramps | Hampton Hotel Bordeaux

Glass balustrades for the access ramp at the Hampton Hotel in Bordeaux

This project involves the installation of safety glass balustrades on the external access ramp of the Hampton by Hilton Bordeaux Mériadeck, situated in the Mériadeck district in Bordeaux city centre. The structure was designed to provide a safe access route for people with reduced mobility leading to the hotel’s terrace, within a public-facing environment characterised by high architectural standards.
The entire balustrade was made to measure, adapting to the existing geometry of the concrete ramp.

Design principle and adaptation to the existing structure

Structure Transparence worked on a ramp with a specific slope and shape, requiring precise adaptation of the fixing system. The balustrade consists of trapezoidal glass panels, integrated into a U-shaped bracket fixed directly into the concrete of the access ramp.
A technical seal inserted into the bracket accommodates the glazing, secures it in place and ensures consistent alignment along the entire length of the ramp. This system serves both as a safety railing and a balustrade, whilst maintaining a fluid architectural aesthetic.

Technical constraints and installation

The main challenge of this project lay in the shape of the glazing units, whose trapezoidal geometry required a specialised manufacturing process. Each panel was individually dimensioned to adapt to the slope of the ramp, whilst ensuring that the edge of the glass remained perfectly vertical once in place.
The installation phase required a high degree of precision, both in positioning the mounting brackets and in aligning the glazing units. This type of project demands specific expertise in the field of glass and glazing, in terms of both design and installation.

Safety, standards and use in public access buildings

Although a simple low barrier may be sufficient to prevent a wheelchair from tipping over, the choice of a glazed balustrade here meets a dual requirement: compliance with accessibility standards for people with reduced mobility applicable to public access buildings, and the aesthetic quality expected in a hotel.
The glazing used has been granted a technical approval, guaranteeing its compliance with the safety requirements in force for public access buildings. Thanks to its in-house design office and teams experienced in complex installations, Structure Transparence undertakes projects requiring a high level of technical expertise and reliability.