Penbryn Mill

Contemporary Glass Extension in West Wales

The Penbryn Mill project in West Wales is a great example of a contemporary glass extension in West Wales, and of how contemporary glazing can be used through thoughtful design and advanced glazing technology on a historic building. IQ Glass successfully transformed a historic mill into a contemporary home that respected its past while embracing modern living, creating two contemporary glass box extensions.

IQ Glass collaborated with the architect to design and install a bespoke glazing package tailored to the mill’s unique site conditions and architectural goals. The key features of the glazing is two glass extensions provided to the Welsh mill. These extensions incorporate slim sliding doors and structural glass rooflights that introduce modern performance standards whilst preserving the historic character of the building. This helped to achieve the project’s vision of openness, transparency, and connection to the surrounding landscape.

Credit

Architect - Creative Mass Ltd

Contractor - Jamson Estates Ltd

Photographer - David Butler 

Location

West Wales

The contemporary glass extension in West Wales included a Marine Grade Finish in RAL 7016. These additions were installed to transform the interior into a bright and welcoming space, ensuring that the glazing enhanced rather than competed with the mill’s rugged stonework. When closed, the doors framed uninterrupted views of the countryside. When open, they dissolved the boundary between inside and out, allowing the mill to spill naturally into its outdoor spaces. This visual lightness provided a striking contrast to the building’s heavy masonry, creating a balance between solidity and transparency.

The most iconic feature of the project the centrepiece of the renovation was the glass extension that projected outwards over the waterfall, designed as a transparent structure that hovered above the flowing water.

The glass extension in West Wales was designed to enhance natural light and strengthen the building’s connection to its surroundings. This design required precision engineering and frameless or minimally framed glazing to maintain transparency. The exterior glass on the extension had a low‑maintenance coating to reduce the frequency of cleaning, due to its coastal location.

A solar control coating (SN70/35) was applied to the glazing, designed to manage heat gain whilst maintaining excellent levels of natural light throughout the day. This advanced coating reflected the sun’s infrared energy, helping to keep the internal space cooler during periods of strong sunlight.

Restoring a heritage building was never a straightforward task. Penbryn Mill, originally built from local stone and historically finished with lime render, required a careful approach to preserve its character. The design intent was to rebuild and restore the mill using the original stone and traditional materials, including lime render and box sash windows, to return the building to its former appearance. IQ Glass’s installation team adapted each glazing element to the irregularities of the existing stonework, ensuring a perfect fit while protecting the integrity of the original building.

Core challenges lay in the building’s structural design, and as a historic mill, the structure demanded a sensitive approach that balanced preservation with innovation. The project became a careful negotiation between heritage constraints and modern living standards.

If you are working on a historic building project, or a contemporary glass extension in West Wales, get in touch with our technical team now!

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