Architect: Linework Architects
Client: Private Client
Linework Architects imaginative use of architectural glass rooflights was key to transforming this period north London property. Lineworks director, Robert Haworth
collaborated with Glazing Vision with the
objective of delivering natural daylight and
a touch of glamour to some tricky spaces
whilst maintaining privacy where needed.
The design brief for the project called
for an ultra-minimalist final finish, so
it was important that all of the glazing
featured minimal framework and a clean
integration with the building fabric itself.
Glazing Visions philosophy of minimum
framework, maximum daylight was the
preferred solution and met all of the design
requirements, providing enough flexibility
to tackle the various challenges that the
scheme presented. The property comprises
of three stories with a mixture of extensions
added to increase usable living space, the
problem with this is that some of these
areas can be starved of natural daylight,
making them gloomy and uninviting, in
order to combat this, several types of
rooflight needed to be specified to tackle
each of the areas.
Beginning on the ground floor, a wrap
around extension has been created
featuring a modern and contemporary
kitchen dining area leading on to the
garden. A large set of sliding glass doors
provides natural daylight and access to
the outdoor space, but their effectiveness
at delivering enough daylight is limited
as you go deeper into the building where
it would begin to feel darker and more
claustrophobic.
To address this, a Glazing Vision
modular rooflight system measuring
over six metres in length runs along
the entire length of the extension,
this unit is fixed structurally to the
original wall of the building creating
the feeling of a ‘glass roof’ when
transitioning from the original
building to the new. Manufacturing
the unit in three sections allowed it
to be successfully maneuvered on
site without the use for an expensive
crane and the structural silicone joints
between the sections maintained
the frameless appearance needed to
compliment the minimalist interior.
“All three rooflights were quite tricky to install
because the property was a terraced house
and there was no ability to use a crane.
Somehow the team got them in!” Robert
Haworth, Director, Linework Architects.
The creation of a second storey extension
was essential to provide a large family
bathroom space, but this meant that the
stairwell leading to it was another area
potentially starved of natural daylight.
Installing a rooflight overhead was a logical
solution, but this was complicated by the
position of the stairwell being located
beneath two opposing pitched roofs.
An off the shelf solution would not be
acceptable as any rooflight installed
above would need to be designed to
accommodate this tricky. As rooflight
specialists, Glazing Vision were able to
design and manufacture a custom shaped
fixed Flushglaze unit specifically for this
part of the building.
Therefore maximising the amount of overhead glazing and thus lighting the stairwell sufficiently
so that it can be used safely without the need for artificial lighting. Perhaps one of the most quirky
and inventive parts of this renovation is the use of glazing in the bathroom, the client had specified
a large walk-in shower area which was easily achievable given the space available but would have
resulted in the shower being located in a dark corner of the room necessitating the use of artificial
lighting. Natural daylight is critical when attempting to achieve a minimalist scheme, so Linework
Architects wanted to ensure that this element was carried through to all corners of the building.
“We were trying to make a really exceptional bathroom space, so we decided to use the Eaves
Rooflight, and play with the transparencies in the glass.” Robert Haworth, Director, Linework
Architects.
Glazing Vision’s ‘Eaves’ Flushglaze rooflight was specified and designed to be installed as part of the
walk-in shower area. This rooflight comprises of a vertical section of glass, and an overhead section
in line with the eaves of the roof.
The resulting installation delivers a floor to
ceiling vertical glass window section which
transitions into the roof seamlessly with no
additional framework, this creative solution
provides a unique design element to the
bathroom and the much-needed daylight to
open up the space.
Being a bathroom, privacy also had to be
addressed, particularly in the shower area!
Glazing Vision recommended the use of
opaque satin etched glass which provides
enough translucency to allow light to
permeate, but also presents a frosted glass
finish sparing the blushes of anyone using the
shower.
Taking around five months to complete, this
was not a straightforward scheme to deliver,
however the end result can be considered
transformative. Linework Architects
uncompromising and inventive use of glass
rooflights has proved incredibly successful
in this project and contributed greatly to the
feeling of light, air, and space in this minimalist
haven.
To discuss any rooflight projects you are
working on contact us on 01379 658300 or
sales@glazingvision.co.uk, you can also
request a CPD.
Photography: Stale Eriksen,
info@eriksenphoto.com,
+44 (0) 7974847794,
https://eriksenphoto.com
