December 20, 2024

IQ Glass – Year in Review

Written by Charles Lowe

2024 is coming to a close, and what an exciting year it’s been for our clients. Completing a number of landmark projects across the UK and beyond, from residential masterpieces to commercial milestones, IQ continues to deliver great results. Here are some of the highlights! 

Shards: A Paragraph 80 Eco Masterpiece

Shards is a striking eco-friendly luxury dwelling designed by Morgan Carn Architects on a reclaimed quarry. Inspired by the angular fragments of glass and bricks found on the old site, this Paragraph 80 home uses oversized frameless structural glass to create a futuristic, geometric motif. It’s everything contemporary design should be: bold, unconventional and energy-efficient. 

It features a Bond-villainesque 4m-high frameless glass “shard” that juts dramatically over the outdoor pool. Frameless glass balustrades and minimal windows pivot doors are thoughtfully integrated with the sharp angles of black timber cladding to create a truly unique and quintessentially modern look. 

Nominated for the Sussex Heritage Trust Awards

Hayle House, Cornwall: A Showcase of Modern Glazing Excellence  

Hayle House is an inspiring self-build project in Cornwall, blending glu-lam timber frames with expansive structural glazing to create a light-filled contemporary haven. The design features a stunning glass façade with Invisio Structural Glazing, slim-framed sliding doors and Sieger Casement Windows. 

This projects was shortlisted for The Cornish Building Awards because it’s sustainable, innovative and thoughtfully integrated into its rural setting. It’s a great example of IQ’s expertise in bespoke glazing solutions for luxury homes. 

Grainhouse: A Prestigious London Office Renovation  

Grainhouse in Covent Garden, once a Victorian seed house, has been transformed into a multi-use office space. It took careful planning to bring it up to date, with a sympathetic nod to its original architecture. Designed by Barr Gazetas Architects, this award-winning renovation spans over 90,000 square feet across five storeys, incorporating bespoke steel-framed glass doors and curtain walling to create light-filled offices. 

IQ Projects provided a tailored glazing package, overcoming tricky logistical challenges that inevitably come when retrofitting a historic structure with uneven floors and elevations. 

Won the AJ Retrofit Award 2024 and the BCO Regional Award  

 Check out the YouTube video 

Rhodes House Structural Glazed Pavilion: A Landmark in Oversized Glazing  

IQ Projects collaborated with Stanton Williams to create a striking structural glass pavilion at Rhodes House, University of Oxford. Designed as a 360-degree glazed space, the pavilion provides a serene meeting space with uninterrupted views of the historic gardens. The glass, featuring low-iron solar control coatings and SGP laminated interlayers, forms both the walls and a stabilising framework for the curved timber roof.  

This kind of ambitious project for a Grade II listed site presented in-depth challenges that only IQ were trusted to handle. Installing 5m-tall oversized structural glass panels, we used specialised crane equipment to carefully navigate protected trees and other heritage constraints.  

Petite Maison: A Modern Twist on a Guernsey Bungalow  

Petite Maison is a beautifully renovated Guernsey bungalow that marries its heritage charm with a stylish array of glazing by IQ International. Featuring an Apertio solid entrance pivot door with timber sidelights, the design connects the traditional exterior and contemporary interior.  

A standout feature is the oversized frameless structural glass window, spanning two floors to flood the staircase and interiors with natural light. This coastal renovation shows how our thoughtful glazing design can preserve the historical character of your building, while introducing modern functionality and style. 

Sky House Celebrates 10 Years with Its Most Successful Architect Event

Sky House Design Centre marked its 10-year anniversary with a landmark architect event, attended by over 150 design and construction professionals. The event featured the unveiling of the Avino Atelier timber showroom, showcasing innovative timber finishes and architectural solutions.

Launching Avino: All Types of Luxury Timber Glazing!

If you haven’t already, come and visit our Avino showroom at Sky House Design Centre! Avino is our exciting new brand, delivering high-quality timber products including windows, doors and cladding! 

New Products in the Showroom 

Sieger Legacy TH+ Windows and Doors 

Check out the new Sieger Legacy TH+ windows and doors, now on display in our showroom! With the Sieger Legacy TH+  Uw values of 0.84W/m2k to 0.91W/m2k, they’re now almost 40% more efficient than the original Sieger legacy systems. 

Burnished Brass Door Handles 

Burnished brass door handles are also now available to view at the IQ Glass showroom in Amersham. These handles are crafted for durability and style, offering a high-quality finish that complements a range of door designs. 

Celebrating Industry Recognition in 2024 

This year has been exceptional for IQ Glass, with our projects and systems earning accolades across major industry awards. 

Archello Awards 2024 

Our Invisio Thermally Broken Structural Glazing System secured two wins: ‘For the Planet’ Jury Winner and ‘Window Frame of the Year’. Recognised for its environmental innovation and design excellence, Invisio combines frameless aesthetics with outstanding thermal performance, setting a benchmark in modern glazing. 

Schüco Excellence Awards 2024 

IQ Glass and Studio Octopi celebrated success with The Saddlery, which won in the Individual House Improvement category. This Grade II listed London project showcased how bespoke Schüco systems can overcome conservation constraints to deliver both sustainability and aesthetic impact. 

RIBA Awards 2024 

IQ Glass played a pivotal role in several award-winning and shortlisted projects: 

• Gainsborough House won RIBA East Building of the Year for its seamless integration of contemporary glazing with historical preservation. 

• Plas Glyn-y-Weddw earned the RSAW Client of the Year Award, blending innovative café designs with sensitive heritage conservation. 

• Meadow House and Black House Farm received finalist positions in their respective RIBA categories, highlighting IQ’s expertise in rural and conservation projects. 

AJ Awards 2024 

IQ Glass continues to gain recognition in the AJ Architecture and Retrofit Awards: 

• Hanbury Hall was shortlisted for Heritage Project of the Year, blending bespoke glazing with Grade I listed architecture. 

• Taper House earned a nomination for the Manser Medal – House of the Year for its Invisio frameless structural glazing. 

• Grainhouse and the V&A Museum were recognised for innovative reuse and adaptation projects, shortlisted in multiple AJ Retrofit categories. 

These achievements underline IQ Glass’s dedication to excellence, from sustainable innovation to delivering bespoke glazing solutions for the most challenging and prestigious projects. 

Annual Charity Golf Day Raises Over £10k for Cancer Research 

IQ Glass’s 2024 Charity Golf Day proved to be a tremendous success, raising an impressive £10,790.73 for Cancer Research UK. Held at The Buckinghamshire Golf Club, the event saw 30 golfers enjoying perfect weather and a lively competition, followed by a BBQ in the newly renovated Orangery. 

Funds raised support Cancer Research UK by funding a Research Lab Assistant for four months, helping to advance life-saving treatments. 

More to Come in 2025... 

Thanks again to all our clients for allowing us to collaborate with them on such interesting projects. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

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