The Ribbon, London

Location: Oxford Street, London, UK
Architect: Orms
Main Contractor: Wates
Door Manufacturer: Saper Glass

Project Overview
Located at the intersection of Oxford Street and Wells Street, The Ribbon is a landmark mixed-use development combining premium office, retail and leisure space within one of London's busiest commercial districts. Designed by Orms and delivered by Wates, the project prioritised transparency, natural daylight and occupant wellbeing while meeting stringent fire safety requirements.

The Challenge
A key design objective was to maximise visual connectivity and daylight penetration throughout the building without compromising the fire strategy. The project required fire-rated compartmentation between reception areas, stairwells, service corridors and circulation spaces while maintaining an open, contemporary aesthetic.

The Solution
To achieve this balance, 26 fire-rated glazed doorsets were installed throughout the development. Supplied by Saper Glass, the solution combined the Visitec FR single-leaf narrow-stile pivot door system with fixed glazed panels incorporating SCHOTT PYRAN® S fire-resistant glass.

The glazing system delivers E60 integrity fire resistance while maintaining exceptional transparency. Narrow 30mm door edge profiles incorporate intumescent smoke seals that activate during a fire, helping to contain flames and smoke while preserving safe evacuation routes.

System Benefits
• E60 integrity fire resistance
• Smoke protection
• Toughened safety glass construction
• No heat-soak testing requirement
• Ultra-white appearance with maximum daylight transmission
• Slim-profile aesthetics
• Minimal visual barriers between building zones

Glazing Specification

Fire-Rated Glazing Solution
• 26 Visitec FR glazed fire doorsets
• E60 integrity fire rating with smoke protection
• Narrow-stile glazed pivot doors with fixed glazed panels
• Concealed electric locking
• Back-to-back flat bar pull handles

Glass Specification

Doors: 12mm SCHOTT PYRAN® S
Fixed Panels: 10mm SCHOTT PYRAN® S

The Result
The fire-rated glazing solution supports The Ribbon's focus on light, connectivity and user wellbeing by allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the building while maintaining clear sightlines throughout the interior. Rather than acting solely as a technical fire-safety component, the glazing contributes directly to the user experience, creating bright, visually connected spaces that support collaboration, orientation and comfort.

By utilising SCHOTT PYRAN® S as the foundation of the glazing concept, the design team achieved large areas of uninterrupted glass and exceptionally slim profiles, demonstrating how fire-rated glazing can become an architectural feature rather than a visual compromise.