70% of RIBA House of the Year 2023 shortlisted projects featured rooflights. It’s no surprise given they allow architects to unlock design potential, play with light, increase ventilation and access unused space. Here Jon Shooter, Managing Director at Glazing Vision looks at recent projects to see how architects have used rooflights and roof windows to meet specification challenges.
Flooding space with light
Many Victorian properties are gloomy, so homeowners rely on artificial light, impacting wellbeing, energy efficiency and sustainability. So, when Oasys Property Solutions designed a North-East facing extension featuring a generous-sized kitchen/dining/living space, an abundance of natural daylight was a must.
We provided Simon Heckford, Director at Oasys Property Solutions, with technical advice and specified two flat Flushgaze rooflights, and a wall abutted bespoke rooflight. He said: “There’s no question the quality, and consistency, of natural light from the rooflights, even in the bleakest weather, contributes to the light and airy feel of the extension.”
Preventing overheating
Climate crisis means regulating temperatures is increasingly important. Rooflights can play an integral role in preventing overheating and circulating fresh air. They can be operated by the homeowner, or state-of-the-art automatic opening rooflights can be integrated into building management systems.
The former solution was chosen by Chris Dyson Architects to moderate temperatures in a traditional orangery and extension at a North London residence.
Insulated walls and energy efficient double-glazing would keep the orangery warm in winter. In summer, ventilation and comfort would be controlled by opening the doors and a full width Dual Sliding Over Fixed Rooflight rooflight, equipped with sliding elements.
Manufactured in a bespoke bronze finish, this exceptionally large flat rooflight was precision-engineered in eight sections. The two end sections were manufactured to slide over the six fixed central sections, traversing in a side-to-side, rather than an up-and-down slope operation. The sliding sections are electronically controlled to provide a quiet and efficient operation, with a manual override for safety.
Bringing the outside in
City living provides many benefits but can mean there’s little or no outside space. To increase ventilation and bring the outside in, a stunning penthouse in Knightsbridge incorporated a novel solution - open air dining within the confines of the building. Crucially, the clients wanted the option to close this off, making the room beneath weathertight, while maintaining high levels of natural daylight.
Find out how a bespoke Sliding Over Roof Rooflight helped overcome this specification challenge and how you can use rooflights to transform your projects by reading the full article from Glazing Vision.
To learn about specifying rooflights to bring aesthetic appeal and functionality to your next project, download our suite of technical whitepapers covering the requirements of Approved Documents L, F, O, K & Q or request a CPD.
Rooflights help increase energy efficiency and reduce reliance on artificial light by bringing natural light into the extension of this family home
Adding a Bespoke Rooflight helps prevent overheating and circulate air in the traditional orangery of this family home
A bespoke Sliding Rooflight allows the dining room of this Knightsbridge Penthouse Suite to completely open up to the outside
Glazing Vision’s flushglaze walk on rooflight not only floods the kitchen with light but means the roof can be used as a terrace
A three wall boxed rooflight provides elegant access for a roof terrace in a modern townhouse
