February 12, 2016

Home Supplement – The Sunday Times

Written by Rebecca Clayton

Clever Architectural Glazing Designs

A recent feature in The Sunday Times illustrates clever designs in order to ‘let the sunshine in’ using numerous architectural glazing solutions. Nearly half of potential property buyers (46%) would be put off by a home with poor levels of natural light. Building regulations can cause restrictions on adding glazing that overlooks the neighbours making it more difficult to put more or bigger windows in. Therefore, architects and glaziers have been thinking outside the box in order to renovate small, mid-terrace period homes lacking natural light.

How to add natural light to your property

Aluminium bi fold doors are a common way to create light filled living spaces as it also enables an inside outside living experience.

The Sunday Times featured a project using bi folding doors with a brief to connect the home with nature and lots and lots of light. Maximising natural light is harder in built up locations, nevertheless it is at the forefront of design ideas.

Home, The Sunday Times - Brackenbury House, Hammersmith, London

Additionally, using structural glass floors will allow you to achieve a simple yet effective design, perfect for filling a basement conversion with natural light for example, the recent project featured in The Sunday Times- Home illustrated in the below image.

Home, The Sunday Times - Brackenbury House, Hammersmith, London

“Natural light is the most precious building material when you’re designing houses in a dense city like London” explains the architect of The Tailored House in West-London, which was also featured in The Sunday Times for clever design.

Structural glazing was used to an entire side elevation of the London property letting in plenty of natural light, even with vertical fins which protects the privacy of the residents and neighbours.

Home, The Sunday Times – The Tailored House, West-London

IQ’s recent project, Warwick Gardens was a glass side in fill extension in order to maximise the amount of natural light to the notoriously gloomy London Victorian town-house. This clever architectural glass design uses structural glazing and slim frame sliding glass doors in order to fill the open plan living spaces with natural light.

IQ Glass UK – Warwick Gardens, London

Another project completed by IQ, Gloucester Place illustrates clever architectural glazing design. By using a walk on structural glass roof it creates a courtyard outside living space as well as creating a bright, light filled basement.

These properties all were in need of renovation to achieve one simple thing most London homes are deprived of, natural light filling internal living spaces. With clever designs and using architectural glazing solutions this can be achieved.

Contact IQ Glass for more information about the products mentioned above or for help to maximise the natural light in your home. View our Pinterest Board for more inspiration on aluminium bi fold doors and structural glass floors.