St Michael’s

Glazed Extension in Greater Manchester for a Family Home

St Michael’s is the transformation of a period property in Greater Manchester into a contemporary family home designed around modern living and working. Designed by ARCD Architects, the project introduces a broad garden extension with open plan living spaces, a flexible library and office, and carefully integrated connections between the original home and garden.

The IQ Glass Northern division was appointed to design, supply and install the architectural glazing for the extension. The package included a large slim sliding glass door system across the kitchen and dining area, a pocket sliding glass door for the library and study, and slim aluminium windows positioned throughout the new living spaces.

Featured In

Northern Design Awards Finalist - Residential Extension

Project Partners

Architects: ARCD

Photography: Andrew Wall

Location

Greater Manchester

Transforming Cellular Rooms for Modern Family Living

The original internal arrangement restricted social interaction and no longer reflected how the family wanted to use the house. The brief focused on creating more open and connected living spaces while providing dedicated areas for working from home that could remain separate from everyday family activity when required.

The new extension uses full height glazing to bring daylight deeper into the interior and strengthen views towards the garden. Vertical brick piers introduce rhythm across the broad rear elevation, dividing the glazing into carefully proportioned sections while helping the contemporary addition relate sensitively to the period property.

A key challenge was balancing openness with flexibility. The glazing needed to create a direct connection between the kitchen, dining area and raised patio while allowing the library and office to switch between a private workspace and a more connected part of the family home.

“IQ provided a seamless process through design and installation that matches the products they provide.”
ARCD Architects

Slim Sliding Glass Doors Opening the Extension to the Garden

The principal glazed opening is a large three track sliding glass door system installed across the kitchen and dining area. Measuring approximately 7.2m wide by 2.6m high, the system comprises two sliding panes and one fixed panel, creating a broad garden facing elevation with direct access to the raised patio steps.

Slim 21mm profiles reduce the visible framing between the large glass panels, maintaining clear views from the main living spaces. The aluminium frames are finished in RAL 9011 Graphite Black, providing a consistent dark detail against the brickwork and across the wider glazing package.

The sliding doors form a defining element of the glazed extension in Greater Manchester, allowing natural light to enter across the full width of the kitchen and dining area. Clear toughened double glazing with a low E coating supports thermal performance while preserving the clarity of the garden views.

Pocket Sliding Glass Door for a Flexible Library and Office

A second slim sliding system was installed within the library and study. Measuring approximately 2.3m wide by 2.6m high, the glazed panel slides neatly into a concealed pocket cavity, allowing the room to open directly towards the garden without a visible door leaf remaining within the opening.

This pocket door supports the flexible use of the room. When closed, the library and office can function as a focused private workspace. When opened, it becomes more closely connected to the garden and adjoining family areas, supporting the project’s wider aim of balancing work, relaxation and family life.

The pocket sliding glass door uses the same RAL 9011 Graphite Black frame finish and glazing specification as the larger kitchen and dining system. This creates a consistent appearance across the extension while allowing each system to respond to the particular use of its space.

Slim Aluminium Windows Framing Garden Views

IQ Glass also supplied three slim aluminium windows across the extension. A large fixed picture window, measuring approximately 1.7m wide by 2.1m high, frames a direct view of the garden from the television room and snug.

A further floor to ceiling fixed window, measuring approximately 2.6m high by 815mm wide, introduces a strong vertical glazed detail, while a smaller top hung window provides practical ventilation. All three windows are finished in RAL 9011 Graphite Black and use clear toughened double glazing to match the sliding door systems.

Together, the sliding doors and aluminium windows bring natural light into different areas of the plan and create varied views towards the garden. The glazing works alongside concealed doors, bespoke joinery and integrated storage to support the calm and adaptable interior envisioned for the home. The completed project was named as a finalist in the Residential Extension category at the Northern Design Awards 2026.

Technical Glazing Summary

  • Three track slim sliding glass doors measuring approximately 7191mm wide by 2643mm high, with two sliding panes and one fixed panel.
  • Pocket sliding glass door, measuring approximately 2346mm wide by 2643mm high.
  • Slim 21mm profiles and RAL 9011 Graphite Black aluminium frames across both sliding systems.
  • Clear toughened double glazing with low E coatings, designed for wind loads of 0.65kN/m².
  • Three slim aluminium windows, including a fixed picture window measuring approximately 1680mm wide by 2120mm high.
  • Floor to ceiling fixed window measuring approximately 2585mm high by 815mm wide, plus a smaller top-hung unit.

Speak to IQ Glass About a Glazed Extension in Greater Manchester

St Michael’s demonstrates how a glazed extension in Greater Manchester can transform a period home for contemporary family life. Large slim sliding glass doors, a concealed pocket system and carefully positioned aluminium windows improve natural light, garden views and flexibility across the new living and working spaces.

Early engagement with IQ Glass can support the design and specification of glazing for residential extensions and renovations where large openings, flexible rooms and strong connections to the garden are central to the brief. Contact our team to discuss how architectural glazing can be incorporated into your next project.