February 21, 2022

IQ Glass in the 4 most scenic locations in the South West

Written by Rebecca Clayton

A look at some of our South West glazing projects in some of the most scenic sought after areas within the region.

 

The South West of England is renowned for having beautiful beaches and historic seaside towns, making many of the towns perfect for a holiday home location. Many of the locations mentioned are within 5 miles of the beach and have been specified with marine grade glazing to ensure durability in these harsher environments.

 

Due to the locations, some of our South West glazing projects have been based in areas of outstanding beauty and must be sensitively designed to ensure they adhere to building regulations in these regions. Homes within seaside towns that are known for their heritage and historic value must be considerably designed to ensure they are in keeping with the surrounding architecture, which is often protected by Listed Building status.

 

IQ Glass has worked in some of the most scenic locations in the South West, with a dedicated regional division based in Taunton who is on hand to take on any new projects in this region. Keep reading to discover what makes some of our completed projects special and learn about the areas we have worked in.

 

 

Sand Dunes - Mawgan Porth

 

Mawgan Porth is an area of North Cornwall just 4 miles North of Newquay, known for its Sunday Times award-winning beaches and picturesque walking routes. The properties in the area are typically designed to enhance the rural environment, with subtle designs that merge into the cliff edges.

 

Sand Dunes, an expansive new build property in Mawgan Porth, was designed with oversized glazing systems to make the most of the stunning coastal surroundings. Slim framed sliding door systems were used on both the ground and first floors, contrasting the stone exterior that maintained a seaside theme.

 

The roof structure uses wooden cladding to create an overhang design, offering shade for the oversized glass windows and doors below. Slim framed sliders on the first floor grant access to balcony terraces, with wooden balustrades to add a traditional touch.

The advantage of slim sliding glass door systems is the coastal views even when the doors are closed, allowing the homeowners to enjoy the location even in the colder months. The glazing systems are fully thermally broken to maintain a comfortable living temperature all year round. When the weather permits, the sliding glass doors open up to create an indoor-outdoor style of living.

 

 

Stone Haven - Bodmin

 

This sustainable new build in Cornwall is located in Bodmin, a civil parish and historic town that is known for the hiking routes and known as one of the most spectacular places to visit in the South West. The old country courtroom in the town centre has become a popular tourist attraction and the urban area of Cornwall is also home to St Petroc church, the largest church in the county.

 

It was important for the sustainable home to use locally sourced materials, with one section of the home clad in Cornish slate and the other part using sustainably sourced timber to create a rustic aesthetic. To link these two vastly different parts of the modern home, a minimal glass link was designed to bridge the gap.

The Cornish slate section of the new build features a glass box, protruding out of the main structure onto the grassy slope to increase the useable space and create a modern alternative to a conservatory. Structural glazing was used for two of the three glass walls, with sliding glass doors creating step free access to the outdoor area.

 

Sliding glass door systems were used on one elevation on the ground and first floors, creating a double-height elevation that floods the interior design with natural light and frames the coastal view. Where opening glazing systems have been used on the first floor, frameless glass balustrades have been used to create modern Juliet balconies. Using frameless glass balustrades means the sustainable home can maintain the light and views at all times, whilst adhering to the safety regulations.

 

Sanctuary House – Topsham

 

Topsham is one of Devons must-visit destinations, previously a thriving port and shipbuilding centre now with a rich maritime history and an abundance of quaint cobbled streets. The town is known for the local food and drink, served in independent shops and restaurants that bring character to the Devon location.

 

Many of the buildings are protected by Listed Building status, preserving their character and charm. IQ Glass provided the glazing package for Sanctuary House, a contemporary new build in the area that had minimal impact on the local wildlife and utilised a natural palette of materials including zinc, stone cladding, porcelain tiles and lime render. The homeowner had a degenerative sight issue which meant a lot of light was needed, but no glare. An overhanging roof structure was designed to achieve just this, blocking the suns glare whilst allowing light to flow through the architectural glazing.

 

The house was designed to surpass the performance requirements set by building regulations and meet Lifetime Home standards, using PV panels, an air source heat pump, mechanical ventilation and high-performance glazing systems to maximise the energy efficiency. All of IQ Glass’ glazing systems are designed to surpass industry standards to allow our clients to future-proof their homes, with little to no adjustments needing to be made for particularly sustainable homes.

 

Architectural structural glazing was paired with slim framed sliding systems, creating large elevations of glass walls with moving elements. One of the sliding door systems is in an opening corner configuration, allowing the outdoor kitchen space to be merged with the open plan dining space. To maintain privacy for the homeowners as well as make the most of the surrounding nature, the first floor housed the main communal living areas and the bedrooms were on the ground floor.

 

 

Old Quay – Newton Ferrers

 

Newton Ferrers is a village situated on a creek of the River Yealm, surrounded by ancient creeks and woodlands. Historically, fishing was a major source of income for the locals and there was a lifeboat station at Newton Creek until 1927. The tranquil village is full of thatched cottages and is known for being packed full of wildlife.

 

Old Quay was built in an area of outstanding natural beauty and the original home had to be knocked down instead of renovated when it was identified as a flood risk. It was important for the new build to be sensitively designed to ensure it was not at risk of flooding and this is why a multi-layered design was chosen to sit low within the hillside. Triple glazed sliding door systems were specified to accommodate the extreme conditions of the home next to the River Yealm, as well as completely frameless elevations of triple glazed structural glazing.

Using minimal windows sliding door systems, IQ were able to maintain slim sightlines even with triple glazing. The opening corner configuration opens out to the terrace space, with the same finished floor level creating a continuous flow between the two environments. The sliding door systems are complete with a flush threshold, allowing for seamless and step-free travel. 

 

A range of materials is used throughout the design including zinc, natural stone and wooden cladding that all work to create a unique design. Strip rooflights added streams of natural light to commonly forgotten areas of the home, such as the narrow staircase. Structural glazing was specified to create oversized picture windows, with all fixing details completely concealed within the building finishes to allow the idyllic views to remain the primary feature.

 

 

 

To speak to us about a South West glazing in the UK, get in touch with us here.