Glazing specification at mid-century modern inspired new-build creates shifting dynamic with woodland setting
Glade House is a five-bedroom family home in Surrey designed by Winchester-based practice AR Design Studio.
The architects have incorporated nature as a central theme, sitting the house down lightly in its woodland setting.
Four linear brick walls divide up the plot. They define not only the open-plan ground floor spaces, but their relationship to the four garden areas beyond. The design links every room to the outside.
Full height glazing spans the brick walls, offering uninterrupted views and, thanks to the flush floor and patio levels, seamless transitions between interior and exterior spaces.
Natural light shapes the atmosphere and flow of the interiors. In the central galleried hallway there's a double-height oak-lined void with an exposed timber structure that supports an expansive rooflight.
As the light passes down through the timber facings to ground level, the movement echoes the glade itself and the openness of the surroundings, filling the home's heart with sunlight.
The rooflight is key to creating the sense of dynamic movement - something the clients were keen to achieve - and facilitates not only the necessary light levels, but the cast shapes and patterns that shift through the day.
Light also plays a pivotal role in delineating the spaces that lead off the atrium.
The south-facing kitchen, living and dining areas open up to a rear garden featuring lawns, sunken seating, a fire pit and outdoor dining space. The west wing houses a large private office with views of a semi-private courtyard, providing an idyllic space for homeworking.
Specifying Maxlight at Glade House
Maxlight provided the architectural glazing that brings the design to life.
Full heights of it span the brick walls, creating panoramic views and symbiosis between interior and exterior spaces.
Flush floor-level transitions enhance the sense of spaciousness and ensure every room feels intimately linked to the nature beyond.
Sustainability built in
The house's orientation maximises natural solar gains during the winter while protecting the interiors from the excessive heat of summer.
Large windows and fixed lights are positioned to optimise natural light and minimise energy consumption.
The high-performance glazing ensures natural daylighting, reducing the need for artificial lighting.
Thermally efficient solar control glass helps maintain a comfortable indoor climate all year round, reducing demand for mechanical heating and cooling.
Glade House is shortlisted for Best Brick Building in the 2024 Build It Awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2024 Architecture MasterPrize Awards.
Find more on this case study at ardesignstudio.co.uk/glade-house
For more information and technical support, visit maxlight.co.uk
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