Glenwood is a carefully considered example of curved sliding doors in Edinburgh, delivered as part of the sensitive remodelling of a Category B listed home in Craiglockhart. Originally designed in 1931 by Kininmonth and Spence, the house has been updated with a contemporary glazed extension that reworks former service areas into an open plan kitchen, living and dining space with a stronger relationship to the private rear garden. The IQ Glass Scotland division supplied the bespoke architectural glazing package for the project, centred around a curved minimal windows sliding door system and complementary glazed elements that support the extension’s distinctive geometry.
Project Partners
Architect: David Blaikie Architects
Contractor: Q Build
Photography: Paul Zanre
Location
Edinburgh
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Extending a Listed Edinburgh House with a Contemporary Curved Form
The design for the new extension was shaped by the architectural significance of the original house and by the need to create a clear distinction between old and new. David Blaikie Architects developed a contemporary addition with a sweeping curved form that acts as a modern counterpoint to the straight lines of the existing property. Predominantly glazed walls sit beneath a low zinc-clad roof, while the extension is organised to open views outward to the garden and bring more natural light into what is otherwise a north facing part of the home. For architects and private clients considering curved sliding doors in Edinburgh, this project shows how bespoke glazing can support both heritage sensitivity and ambitious contemporary design.
“Our extension to Glenwood was designed with a sweeping, curved form, conceived as a contemporary counterpoint to the straight lines of the original house. Its garden facing, curved elevation was designed to be highly glazed, incorporating sliding doors and fixed panes that return around each end with frameless glass to glass corners. Ensuring thermal performance, neat detailing and slim sightlines were important, but most critical was finding glazing solutions that could follow the curve. Exploring alternatives confirmed that introducing faceted elements would have severely diminished the design.
The most critical consideration was finding a system that could produce curved sliding doors. Having discussed the project with a number of companies, IQ Glass were the only ones who confidently confirmed they could deliver them. Their can do attitude and proactive, collaborative approach throughout the process resulted in a finished project that we, and more importantly the client, are delighted with.” David Blaikie Architects
Resolving the Tension Between Heritage Context and Modern Living
One of the main challenges was how to adapt a listed property for contemporary family life without diluting its architectural heritage. The brief required the replacement of former service accommodation with a more open and sociable living space, but any intervention needed to remain respectful to the importance of the original building. The new extension therefore had to feel clearly contemporary while still sitting comfortably alongside one of Edinburgh’s notable interwar houses.
Delivering Curved Glazing with Precise Junctions and Minimal Sightlines
A second challenge came from the geometry of the extension itself. The architectural concept relied on a curved glazed elevation, which demanded a bespoke sliding door system capable of following a gentle arc while retaining the slim sightlines expected of high-end residential glazing. This was further complicated by the need to connect the curved minimal windows system to adjoining aluminium casement elements with exacting precision, ensuring that every junction aligned cleanly and that the entire glazed composition operated as a single coherent facade.
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Bespoke Curved Sliding Doors and Complementary Glazing for a Listed Extension
IQ Glass supplied a bespoke curved minimal windows sliding door system as the central architectural glazing feature of the extension. The installation spans 5752mm in width and 2443mm in height and is made up of five panes, three fixed and two sliding, with four panes formed to a gentle curve. The two sliding leaves are bi-parting doors set on the curved line, creating a wide opening while preserving a refined appearance.
This glazed solution allowed the new kitchen and dining spaces to open directly towards the garden while supporting the sculptural character of the extension. A glass-to-glass corner to the fixed return helped maintain visual continuity at the edge of the facade. Alongside the curved sliding system, IQ Glass also provided aluminium casement doors and bespoke triangular fixed casement windows that followed the slope of the roofline and helped draw more daylight into the plan. The glazing package was specified for both appearance and performance, using double glazed clear toughened safety glass with heat soak testing and Low E coated glass rated to withstand a wind load of 0.99 kN/m². Together, these custom glazing elements resolved the technical complexity of the extension while reinforcing its carefully tailored geometry.
Technical Glazing Summary
- Curved minimal windows sliding door system, 5752mm wide x 2443mm high.
- Five pane configuration with bi-parting sliding doors formed to a gentle curve.
- Glass-to-glass corner to the fixed return.
- Double glazed clear toughened safety glass with heat soak testing. Low E coated glass rated to resist wind loads of 0.99 kN/m².
- Aluminium casement doors and bespoke triangular fixed casement windows integrated into the wider extension design.
Speak to IQ Glass About Curved Sliding Doors in Edinburgh
Glenwood demonstrates how bespoke glazing can help unlock a complex residential brief, balancing listed building sensitivity, contemporary architectural expression and precise technical detailing. If you are planning a high-end renovation, a heritage extension or a project involving curved sliding doors in Edinburgh, speak to IQ Glass at an early stage. Our team can advise on feasibility, detailing, performance and bespoke glazing design for complex residential projects.
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