Gloucester Walk

Double Height Glass Extension for a Kensington Terrace Home

Located on the prestigious Gloucester Walk in Kensington, this Victorian terrace property sits within the heart of the Kensington Conservation Area. Originally built during the 1850s on the former grounds of Campden House, the home underwent an extensive renovation and rear extension to create a brighter, more contemporary living environment while respecting its historic context.

Working alongside the project architects, IQ Glass designed, engineered and installed a striking double height glass extension as part of a side return infill extension. The architectural glazing solution transformed the previously restricted footprint, maximising natural light and creating a seamless connection between the house, garden and sky above.

Products Used

Project Partners

Architect: AtelierWest LTD

Photography: Peter Landers ( Lanfers Photos)

 

Location

Kensington, London
view from an internal balcony of a double height glass door with returning glass roof
double height sliding glass doors to london extension

The renovation centred around infilling the side return and opening up the rear elevation of the property. This enabled the architects to create an expansive open-plan living space, enhanced by a dramatic 5.7m-high glazed façade.

The focal point of the extension is a set of ultra-slim sliding glass doors that rise through two storeys and connect directly with a structural glass roof above. Together, these elements form a stunning glass "up and over" extension that floods the interior with daylight while creating a strong visual connection to the outdoor environment.

 

Ultra-Slim Double Height Sliding Doors

Standing at 5.7 metres tall, the double height sliding glass doors were manufactured using IQ's slim framed sliding door system. Despite their extraordinary scale, the doors remain manually operable thanks to advanced engineering and high-performance sliding mechanisms.

The minimalist design features just a 20mm vertical sightline, allowing uninterrupted views and maximising the amount of natural light entering the home. The thermally broken aluminium frames provide excellent thermal performance while maintaining an elegant, contemporary appearance.

Structural Glass Roof with Integrated Rooflight

At high level, the sliding glass doors connect to a returning structural glass roof, creating a fully glazed double height extension. IQ Glass engineered the complete roof structure, including the steel beam connections and supporting framework required to achieve the large spans of uninterrupted glazing.

Integrated within the structural glass roof is an automated opening rooflight, providing natural ventilation to both the double height living space and the adjacent piano room located beside an internal terrace balcony. The automated rooflight improves comfort throughout the year while maintaining the clean architectural aesthetic of the extension.

double height sliding glass door to side infill extension in London
open plan kitchen with bifold doors and slim sliding glass doors

Coordinated Architectural Glazing Design

To ensure a cohesive architectural appearance, all glazing elements were supplied in a matching RAL 7021 Black Grey finish. This included the slim sliding doors, structural glass roof, automated rooflight, bespoke aluminium pressings and bifold doors.

The dark aluminium frames create a striking contrast against the light interior palette, complementing the bespoke timber ceiling with its distinctive grid pattern and enhancing the contemporary character of the extension.

The Result

The completed double height glass extension has transformed this Kensington terrace property into a bright, contemporary home that feels spacious, open and connected to its surroundings. Through the use of ultra-slim architectural glazing, structural glass roofing and carefully engineered details, the project demonstrates how a side return extension can dramatically enhance both the functionality and appearance of a period London home.

 

Technical Specifications: 

  • Slim siding door system: specified throughout the property,
    5.7m high creating a dramatic double-height glazed façade.
  • 20mm vertical sightlines providing minimal visual interruption and expansive garden views
  • Thermally broken aluminium framing for improved thermal efficiency and year-round comfort
  • RAL 7021 Black Grey finish applied across all glazing elements, including the sliding doors, rooflight, structural glazing and bifold doors, ensuring a cohesive architectural appearance
  • Custom PPC aluminium pressings and flashings site measured and templated to conceal structural junctions and deliver a refined finish
  • High-performance glazing specification designed to maximise daylight transmission while maintaining thermal comfort and reducing solar gain
  • Manually operated sliding panels despite their large scale, enabled by advanced sliding door engineering and high-performance running gear
  •  Glass Spec: External 6mm Clear Toughened  , Low E
  • Lock Type: Euro Profile Key lock inside & Outside
  • Handle: Aluminimum Lever Handle- Inside and Outside
  • Hinges: Barrel Hinges & Exposed

 

Looking to Create a Double Height Glass Extension?

Whether you are planning a side return extension, glass box extension or full London renovation, IQ Glass can provide a complete architectural glazing package including design, engineering, manufacture and installation. Speak to our team to discuss your project requirements and discover how bespoke glazing can transform your home.

Associated Products

luxury new build home with minimal glass facade

Slim Framed Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding doors with ultra-slim sightlines, offering only the highest levels of performance and durability.
a large glass roof over a side infill extension with white walls

Structural Glass Roofs

Frameless structural glass roofs for contemporary homes. UK design, manufacture and installation.

Ultra Slim Bifold Doors

Ultra Slim Bifold Doors are ideal for creating seamless indoor/outdoor transitions, maximising natural light and ventilation, and creating an open, modern feel in homes, commercial buildings, and other spaces.
Automated venting rooflight from IQ Glass

A.R.E.S.®

A venting rooflight system designed to open on hinges with concealed actuators for a fully minimal aesthetic

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