The Lake House is a contemporary lakefront new build located at Lakes by Yoo near Lechlade, Gloucestershire. Designed by ANA Architecture + Design Ltd, the home sits within a rural luxury estate in the Cotswolds and uses extensive architectural glazing to strengthen the relationship between the interior spaces, the lake and the surrounding landscape. IQ Glass supplied a bespoke glazing package including ultra slim sliding doors, slim aluminium windows and doors and an entrance door system, creating a highly glazed home with clear views and a strong architectural identity.
Project Partners
Architect: ANA Architecture + Design Ltd
Photography: Image 2 by Patricia Rayner
Location
Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
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Designing Architectural Glazing in Gloucestershire for a Lakeside Home
The design intent was to create a refined lakefront home that felt immersed in its setting while maintaining a minimal, contemporary appearance. The black timber facade helps the property sit quietly within the landscape, while the glazing was designed to frame views, draw natural light into the home and support a strong connection to the surrounding nature.
For architects and private clients considering architectural glazing in Gloucestershire, The Lake House demonstrates how large sliding glass doors and slim aluminium windows can be coordinated into one coherent glazing package. The glazing design needed to follow the architectural language of the home, with RAL 9005 framing specified to align with the blackened timber design and maintain a clean, minimal external finish.
Creating Large Openings While Maintaining a Minimal Facade
One of the main challenges was to introduce large areas of glazing without disrupting the simple black timber facade. The home required oversized sliding glass doors to connect the interior living spaces with the lakefront setting, but the systems also needed to remain visually quiet within the overall architectural composition.
The glazing therefore had to provide wide openings, slim sightlines and a high level of performance, while coordinating carefully with the surrounding cladding. Timber elements were brought over aluminium profiles in places to create more minimal detailing, allowing the glazing package to sit neatly within the structure of the new build.
Supporting Lakefront Living with Ventilation, Views and Practical Detailing
A second challenge was to ensure the glazing supported the practical realities of a lakeside home. The design needed to maximise views and provide ventilation, but the waterfront setting meant insect control and day-to-day usability were also important considerations.
The project also required a consistent approach across multiple glazed elements, including sliding doors, top-hung windows, casement doors, entrance doors and glass balustrades. Each element had to contribute to the highly glazed design while maintaining a unified finish across the property.
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Minimal Sliding Doors and Integrated Glazing for a Lakefront New Build
IQ Glass supplied four sets of slim sliding door systems, with the largest spanning over 7 metres wide and comprising three panes on a three-track system. These oversized sliding doors create broad glazed openings towards the lake and support a seamless connection between the internal spaces and surrounding landscape. All four systems were fitted with concealed insect screens, allowing the homeowners to ventilate the lakefront home while managing the practical requirements of the waterside setting.
The glazing was specified as double glazed clear toughened safety glass with solar control and heat soak testing, supporting performance while allowing the large panes to retain clear views across the estate. To complete the wider package, IQ Glass also supplied slim framed aluminium casement windows and doors, alongside an Apertio solid high security entrance door to provide a secure, contemporary entrance that aligned with the minimal architectural design. Together, these systems show how architectural glazing in Gloucestershire can deliver large scale transparency, coordinated detailing and practical performance within a luxury lakeside new build.
Technical Glazing Summary
- Ultra slim sliding door systems supplied across the project, with concealed insect screens fitted to the sliding door systems.
- Largest sliding door system approximately 7203mm wide x 2518mm high, formed from 3 panes with 2 sliding and 1 fixed pane on a three-track system. Approximate glass weight of 230kg per pane.
- All glazing across the project specified as double glazed clear toughened safety glass with solar control.
- Heat soak testing specified to reduce the risk of spontaneous glass breakage.
- Wind load rating of 0.65 kN/m².
- Slim framed aluminium windows, including top-hung, tilt and turn and fixed panel configurations.
- All frames finished in RAL 9005 Jet Black.
Speak to IQ Glass About Architectural Glazing in Gloucestershire
The Lake House demonstrates how a coordinated architectural glazing package can transform a lakefront new build, creating expansive views, natural light and a refined connection to the surrounding landscape. For architects, developers and private clients planning luxury new homes or high-end rural projects, early glazing input can help resolve sightlines, solar control and ventilation requirements from the outset.
If you are considering architectural glazing in Gloucestershire, speak to IQ Glass about slim sliding doors, aluminium glazing systems, glass balustrades and bespoke glazing packages for contemporary residential design.
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