The Gurdwara Sikh Temple in North Kent has taken eight years and £12 million to build. It is the largest temple of its kind in the UK, and the most complex outside of India. Float Glass Design, a leading architectural glass studio based in Brighton, was one of the few British suppliers selected for the project. Float Glass Design was contracted by the architect, Calfordseaden LLP, to design, create and install three huge, bespoke glass windows – one for each of the three main prayer halls. Each window, measuring an incredible 4.5m x 4.5m, has been created and designed in its own colour theme and message. Comprised of 12 individual glass panels with the top five panels shaped to create the arch, the first window features rectangles and squares of aqua and sea blue overlaid and radiating out from the central symbol of Ek Onkar – an emblem of the Sikh religion meaning God is One. The design for the second window originated from a drawing competition among the Sunday school children. Float Glass Design was then tasked with recreating the winning design for the window using coloured glass in amber yellow, ultramarine blue and lilac. Jane Johansson, creative director at Float Glass Design said: “The design for this window focused on preserving the children’s design input by overlapping the glass to look like the strokes of a felt tip pen.” The final window of textured glass in vivid orange, amber and aqua depicts the folds of a silk turban wrapped around the central emblem of Ek Onkar The architect, Teja Harbhajan Biring of Calfordseaden LLP said, “We are really pleased with how Float Glass Design has designed and created these windows. They are truly impressive and a wonderful feature in the temple.” Float Glass Design completed the windows in stages over an 18-month period. All of the glass is safety laminated and double-glazed to meet building regulations Float Glass Design continues to work with other places of worship throughout the UK. It has recently completed another impressive project for the Hillel Foundation’s new building, that is part of the Grade 2 listed Synagogue in Middle Street, Brighton.
