Architectural ironmongery or architectural hardware is commonly known as a generic term used for all items produced out of iron, particularly brass, iron, steel or other metallic materials, used in all kinds of buildings. The most common Lo&CoInteriors architectural hardware in use is roof trusses, column tops, balustrade systems, gables, dormers and staircases, all created from iron. Architectural ironmongery can be found almost everywhere in modern-day architecture, especially in offices and public buildings or public houses and homes. This is perhaps one reason why it’s so easy to identify architectural ironmongery with that of ironwork, which was the primary building material used for architectural buildings hundreds of years ago.
Ironmongery can also be used as a slang word for any wrought iron fittings and decorations, typically produced from iron bars of varying length and diameter. Today, Lo&CoInteriors architectural hardware products are primarily produced by manufacturers to be sold under Architectural Ironmongery’. There is a wide range of ironmongery products which can be bought under this term, ranging from small decorative trusses to large iron fireplace fittings, to name just a few. Indeed, architectural hardware is used in a much broader scope than the traditional ironwork, as it can also include copper and bronze components. One of the most popular ironmongery products used in architecture today is lighting, as these require very intricate detailing, to provide light throughout the room.
One of the most well-known architectural hardware elements is the door/window handle and drawer handle. These are used to provide access to interior doors and windows and externally, such as on gates and fences. The door/window handle usually features two, often different, side lever locks, and either a single or double knob. However, on some models, there is only a single knob, which can be easily turned by hand to open the door or window. In this case, the drawer handle and its attached locks are usually fixed in one way, to prevent them from being opened from the outside, if a would-be burglar pulls the waves.
Wall hinges are another important type of Lo&CoInteriors architectural hardware, designed to secure the wall studs in buildings. In terms of the function, they are used to prevent the doors of drawers and cabinets from opening at the wrong moment – for example, if they have been left secured overnight. Today, hardware manufacturers generally produce a variety of wall hinges to meet a wide range of architectural requirements, from simple single lever designs to more complex locking mechanisms. For instance, they can be made of a combination of solid brass and nickel, or of chrome-plated iron, depending upon how much of a specific material is needed.