See the light with innovative and unexpected uses of this timeless material
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Words and picture research ⁄ Sophie Baylis
1 Up & over
‘Statement’ is a word the interiors world likes to use – a lot. that said, we can’t think of a more fitting description for up and over glazing designed to catch sunlight as it moves around a property. ‘this type of configuration works very well on narrow installations of glass, where side windows or glazing is not possible,’ says rebecca clayton of IQ Glass. ‘It’s also very popular for side-infill extensions that are largely overlooked by neighbouring properties.’
2 live large
Make an entrance with a single oversized glass door or even a wall of doors – both options are guaranteed to lend a real sense of drama to your abode. Inevitably, this bespoke approach will be more expensive than a standard off-theshelf design and you’ll need to think about weight. However, it will maximise natural light and provide uninterrupted views of just about anything you want to show off. Keep door hardware discreet so as not to detract from the star of the show.
3 Walk this Way
Now here’s a brilliant idea: borrow light to brighten a gloomy room. cue walk-on glass panels (also known as floor lights), which facilitate a flow of light between floor levels. Set flush to the floor to avoid a trip hazard, walk-on glass flooring is most effective when located alongside glazed patio doors or positioned directly under a roof light to take full advantage of the sunshine. panels need to be strong enough to walk on, so you’ll need structural calculations to be done before installation.
4 overhead projection
Look up because your best source of light may come from above. ‘A roof window can typically let in up to twice as much light as a conventional vertical window,’ says Grant Sneddon, product manager at Velux. ‘this is because the glazing is angled directly towards the natural light source, with very little diffused or reflected light.’ If you have a bigger budget, a glass roof will bathe your home in daylight, brightening dark corners and expanding the feeling of space.
5 A work of Art
Many design-conscious types have been reluctant to embrace stained glass, deeming it too old-fashioned for a contemporary look. However, change is afoot. After all, there’s something mesmerising about the richly coloured streams of light produced when sunlight strikes stained glass. It’s not just for windows and doors either – you can use it for dividing walls too. Scour reclamation yards for old church windows or commission a custom design.
6 divide & Rule
Forget open plan. the current buzz is all about broken-plan living, which works in much the same way as its predecessor, drawing light into dark rooms and increasing a sense of flow and connectivity. However, unlike open-plan, broken-plan employs structural elements, such as internal glass walls or windows, to create both a visual and physical separation without the room losing its independence. If privacy is a priority, choose frosted or even privacy glass, which changes from clear to opaque as needed.
7 Inside out
Some design trends become so deeply ingrained in everyday life that they’re taken for granted. take outdoor living, which is driven by a desire to break down the barrier between home and garden to extend one’s living space. of course, it can be tough to create a strong connection to the great outdoors in a more urban environment, but, as these projects prove, success very often comes down to the glazing you choose.
8 Vintage chic
You don’t need to opt for the modern effect of sheets of plain glass in a period home. With their exquisite detailing, vintage and reclaimed options can add more character while still allowing the light to flow freely in a space. Vintage-style glass doesn’t have to be rooted to period properties – cleverly mixed into a contemporary setting, it can have an equally stunning impact.
9 Flights of Fancy
A wow-factor glass staircase can add drama to your home aesthetic and provides an airy and seamless transition between floors. Fitting a glass balustrade maximises the use of natural light to the stairwell and also gives the illusion of a greater sense of space. they are usually constructed with shatterproof glass and can withstand heavy loads, so are perfectly safe for family homes. Qualified suppliers and installers of structural glass will be able to guide you through the choices available.
10 box Clever
A glass box extension with a minimalist, barely there frame isn’t just a contemporary statement – it can elevate the look of a traditional home without compromising the integrity of the original architecture. However, bear in mind that if your home is listed or located in a conservation area, you’ll need planning permission for this kind of work. Once this is granted, give some thought to the type of glass you need. Turn to page 134, where Rebecca Clayton of IQ Glass gives the lowdown on what you need to know.
11 Crittall-style Cool
You don’t need to live in a former factory to adopt the industrial aesthetic of Crittall windows. From new builds to period properties, the windows’ sturdy, slim-profile steel frames adapt with enviable ease to their environment and bring envy-inducing architectural details with them, making them great for shower cubicles or room partitions.
Project details practicality and desirability underpin this project by Sophie Nguyen Architects. The brief was to draw light deep into the house to create a visual separation between the kitchen and adjacent living room. ‘The solution was to span the gap with a single panel of double-glazed glass, 4.50m long by 0.85m wide,’ Nguyen explains. For this type of design, allow for around £1,300-£1,800sq m, depending on your project’s specific requirements.
Project details the Caulfield Company scaled new heights with this impressive six-metre wall of glass. ‘the glass is triple-glazed, which adds great insulation and goes hand in hand with noise-cancelling technology,’ explains founder and MD Mark Caulfield. ‘the minimal framing gives uninterrupted views and a really contemporary look.’ to offset the weight of the made-to-order glass doors, an automatic motorised control system makes them easy to open. Prices start at £15,000.
Project details this oversized glazed internal door, which just oozes chic scandi simplicity, works hard for both the compact corridor and living space. its large glass centre means both areas feel more spacious and less enclosed. another point of difference to this door is that it operates off a pivot rather than a run-of-the-mill hinge. Cue & Co can make a similar door, from £2,800, excluding fitting.
Project details it’s all about teamwork in this urban kitchen, where walk-on glass flooring flanks bifold patio doors to capture sunlight and filter it down to the playroom in the basement below. ‘the added benefit of the glass floor is that it allows the playroom to be viewed from the kitchen – helpful when you have a bunch of kids you need to keep an eye on while cooking dinner,’ explains Neil Dusheiko of Neil Dusheiko architects. the glass floor and glass doors cost around £14,000 and £16,800 respectively.
Project details space restrictions and party wall issues with neighbours meant that Eldridge london had to think outside the box when excavating the basement of this terraced house. Unable to install external windows or light wells, the solution was a glass floor that spans the length of the dining space. Contact Firman Glass for something similar – expect to spend from £35,000.
Project details By adding a large glass roof to this basement extension, fc Architects has let light penetrate into the open-plan kitchen/dining space. ‘the other advantage is roof thickness,’ says director peter chiu. ‘A glass roof is thinner than a solid one so you gain extra headroom, which is ideal for a basement extension where you might be limited by planning constraints.’ if all this glass looks like a maintenance nightmare, you’ll be glad to hear that a non-stick coating can be applied to help stop dirt sticking. A similar roof from easyglaze costs around £19,200.
Project details Here, designer Jo Berryman provides a lesson in how to keep the distinctive aesthetic of stained glass fresh. the entrance to this hall is more in keeping with modern tastes, mixing clear and coloured glass to dial down the high drama of traditional stained glass. there’s also the added benefit that it lets more light filter through. Acquire your own unique piece of stained glass from Lightworks Stained Glass.
Project details Here’s how to separate spaces, but keep a sense of flow. this EMR Architecture design means that cooking smells are contained thanks to a pocket door that slides into a cavity within the kitchen wall. Meanwhile, an internal window lets in light and helps retain connectivity to the living room even when the door is shut. A similar window will cost around £3,000.
Project details textured glass set within matt-black steel framing adds a hint of industrial style to this bathroom scheme. the beauty of the glass divide is that it provides privacy without compromising the flow of natural light from the window above the bath. the connecting space is characterised by a large mirror hung above the vanity unit to help amplify the light. this project was designed by stiff + trevillion. expect to pay from around £6,000 for similar Crittall-style glazing.
every well-designed home has a feature that marks the pinnacle of its success. For this Australian abode, it’s the stunning master en suite. ‘We utilised an expanse of mirror to reflect the light and the vista, thus “doubling” the visual space and creating that wow factor,’ explains designer and homeowner Michelle Fieldsend of A Fresh touch Interiors.
Project details opting for great swathes of glass is a foolproof way to blur the boundary between indoors and out. Worried about overheating? there’s a range of solar-control coatings available that give you different levels of solar protection. ‘Always seek expert advice because each time you reduce the amount of solar radiation coming in, you will reduce the clarity and light transmission of the glass too,’ explains Rebecca Clayton of IQ Glass. ‘the choice of coating then becomes a balancing act between the clear, transparent look you want and the level of protection you need.’ shown here is a sky-frame sliding door system, priced from £14,000.
Project details this elegant glazed partition is proof enough that a door can be much more than just part of the bones of a room. the painted wood gives a crittall-style look to these edwardian doors and separates two areas while retaining a sense of unity without compromising on the light. Black oak Builders can make something similar from around £7,500.
Project details the owners of this modern white kitchen have added interest by offsetting the minimalist style with decorative glass on the doors. the blend of architectural designs creates a visual tension but yet an appealing balance. this kitchen from elan Kitchens costs £34,000.
Project details Designed to float gracefully above the floor, this staircase is so much more than a practical route to the next level. A glass balustrade lightens the look of the timber treads and risers and to frame the balustrade, Gregory phillips Architects added in a handrail wrapped in luxurious leather. Allow £25,000 per flight of stairs.
Project details a reminder that victorian architecture needn’t hold you back in the style stakes, this slick glass extension by Minale + Mann brings this london home bang up to date. by extending sideways, its owners have gained valuable square metres for a casual dining area. bifold doors enhance the seamless transition between indoors and out and allow for amazing views of the garden. this extension was part of a complete renovation that cost approximately £1 million.
Project details old doesn’t have to mean traditional. Here, a supercontemporary glass box extension by scott Donald architecture lightens the visual aesthetic of the period brick building. the ‘open-ended’ design is achieved using 3.2m-high sky-frame sliding glass doors at both ends, increasing the sense of space from within and providing an impressive through-view. to remove any barrier between indoors and out, a cavity built into the wall allows the sliding doors to disappear completely when open. the cost of this extension was around £200,000 (shell only).
Project details Colour theory dictates that white pushes the walls of a room back, which works well here as height has the potential to make the space feel narrow. Crittall-style glazing was chosen to provide sharp definition to the sea of white. ‘it also frames the view and breaks down the scale of the opening,’ says Guy stansfeld of 318 studios. expect to spend around £8,000 for something similar.