Quarter Glass House

.An existing PVC conservatory was demolished to make way for a series of new interior levels. Proctor and Shaw designed a sequence of stepped plateaus expanding the height, light and volume of the space. The gentle sloping steps allow the clients to make a controlled descent into the garden through distinct yet connected kitchen, dining, and outdoor terrace zones.

Two neighbouring extensions presented a challenge, requiring us to maintain residents’ privacy and access to light while still fulfilling the brief to create a light and bright home. The result was a wrap-around extension with angular glazing, allowing the requirements of the site to naturally dictate the form of the building. 

The resulting apex form includes four distinct ‘quarter glass’ windows of various sizes. Just as cars have quarter glass windows custom designed to the body of the vehicle, we have configured glazing to best fit and service the new family space. 

The largest window offers a clerestory opening to draw light into the extension. A second frames a cosy window seat protruding into the garden, while a third trapezoidal window offers a view onto a newly created courtyard at the heart of the home. The fourth ‘quarter glass’ is a triangular roof oculus, set in deeply framed downstand beams that control views to the neighbouring property.

The interiors of the extension are textural and warm in muted copper and duck egg tones. Interior character is achieved whilst maintaining economy. An exposed structural soffit in Douglas Fir is offset against soft custom blue cabinet fronts below, applied to off-the-shelf Ikea cabinetry.

Annual CO2 emissions data (requested in kg/m2/year) was not provided.