York Townhouse features a floating industrial glazed extension, designed by Mass Architecture to replace an external metal terrace and introduce more natural light into a narrow period property. The new glazed sunroom creates an additional living space at upper ground floor level, improving the connection between the house and garden without reducing daylight to the subterranean rooms below. The IQ Glass Northern team supplied and installed a glazing package comprising an Invisio® structural glass roof, slim aluminium casement windows and an aluminium casement door.
Project Partners
Architect: Mass Architecture
Image Credits: Jim Varney
Location
York, North Yorkshire
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Creating a Floating Glazed Extension for a Narrow Townhouse
Natural light was central to the design brief. The townhouse has a narrow footprint arranged across four floors, so the replacement of the existing terrace needed careful consideration to avoid shading the lower ground floor.
Mass Architecture designed a floating glazed sunroom that opens the upper ground floor towards the garden while allowing daylight to reach the rooms below. Its structural glass roof, slim aluminium framing and exposed supporting steel create the industrial character of the extension, while the south facing orientation provides a space from which the homeowners can enjoy the garden and evening sunlight.
Increasing Living Space Without Shading the Lower Ground Floor
One of the main challenges was creating additional living space without making the subterranean level darker. A conventional solid extension could have restricted daylight and weakened the visual relationship between the lower rooms and the garden.
The new structure therefore needed to maximise transparency across the roof and elevations. Its raised position also had to work with the new staircase, retaining structures and garden levels while preserving the distinctive floating appearance when viewed from outside.
Installing Structural Glass with Restricted Access
The period townhouse plot provided only a narrow side passage for access to the rear garden. Large lifting equipment could not reach the installation area, so the glazing units had to be carefully moved from the delivery point to the extension by hand.
This required detailed planning and coordinated manual handling by the IQ Glass Northern team. The structural roof glass, door glazing and large window arrangements all needed to be transported through the restricted route without damaging the glass or the existing property.
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Structural Roof Glazing and Slim Aluminium Frames for a Floating Extension
IQ Glass supplied an Invisio® structural glass roof measuring almost 5 metres wide, formed from six silicone jointed panes supported by steel sections. The transparent roof allows daylight to enter the sunroom and reach the lower levels of the house, while solar control glass helps manage heat gain during warmer months. A rain chain provides drainage from the glass roof and contributes to the industrial character of the design.
Slim aluminium casement windows form the glazed elevation, combining fixed panes with top hung openings for ventilation. A tall outward opening aluminium door with a sidelight and shaped toplight provides garden access while following the height and geometry of the extension. Together, these elements create a light and open industrial glazed extension in North Yorkshire that appears to float above the lower garden level.
IQ Glass also supplied glazing for a separate garden room at the rear of the property, including a bifold door system and additional structural glazing. This smaller structure complements the wider renovation but remains distinct from the main floating extension.
Technical Glazing Summary
IQ Glass supplied structural roof glazing and slim aluminium systems for the main extension, with additional glazing provided for the separate garden room.
- Invisio® structural glass roof measuring approximately 4876mm x 2263mm.
- Roof formed from six silicone jointed glass panes with steel support sections.
- Slim aluminium window arrangement comprising fixed and top hung panels.
- Outward opening aluminium casement door with a sidelight and shaped toplight.
- Heat soak tested glass to reduce the risk of spontaneous breakage.
- Solar control glass specified to help manage heat gain.
- Aluminium frames finished in RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey.
Discuss an Industrial Glazed Extension in North Yorkshire
York Townhouse demonstrates how structural roof glazing and slim aluminium systems can add valuable living space to a narrow period property without reducing daylight to the floors below. For architects, developers and private clients planning an industrial glazed extension in North Yorkshire, early specialist input can help resolve structural support, solar control, drainage and restricted installation access.
Speak to IQ Glass about structural glass roofs, slim aluminium doors and windows, and bespoke glazing for townhouse renovations, period properties and contemporary residential extensions.
