Architectural glass for views of the Cornish coast

Bi-parting and pocket sliding doors across the beach elevation

Large minimal sliding glass doors form the principal openings from the living and dining spaces. Bi-parting configurations allow the doors to open from the centre, creating wide access to the terraces while maintaining minimal vertical framing when closed.

Different configurations were designed around the bedrooms and guest areas, including smaller two-pane sliders and pocket doors that disappear into concealed wall cavities. A sheltered balcony outside the master bedroom combines sliding doors with fixed structural glazing, allowing the opening to remain usable during less favourable weather.

This varied use of one slim sliding system maintains a consistent architectural language while adapting to the different room layouts.

Structural glazing for bedrooms, bathrooms and the stairwell

Frameless structural glazing was used where fixed glass could solve specific daylight and view requirements. Large picture windows frame the beach from bedrooms, while structural glass above the main sliding doors increases daylight beneath the projecting roof.

Within the bathroom, fixed structural glass provides sea views while higher-level glazing and a thermally broken rooflight maintain natural light when privacy blinds are closed.

Structural glazing beside the staircase allows daylight from the double-height elevation to travel towards the basement, reducing the effect of the limited lower-level windows.

Frameless glass balustrades are also integrated with upper-floor sliding openings to form minimal glass Juliette balconies without interrupting the coastal views.

Technical details

• Slim framed sliding glass doors: 21mm minimal meeting sightline; project includes large bi-parting configurations, pocket sliders and smaller two-pane bedroom doors; flush threshold detailing and concealed outer frames used across the coastal elevations. The system supports pocket configurations and integrated drainage.
• Frameless windows: fixed structural glass installations use the thermally broken Invisio fixing system, allowing perimeter frames to be concealed within surrounding finishes.
• Glass Juliette balconies: frameless structural glass balustrades integrated with upper-floor sliding openings to provide guarding while retaining clear views and ventilation.
• Thermally broken rooflight: frameless rooflight to the bathroom; Invisio thermally broken rooflights can achieve a Uw value of 1.2 W/m²K and use toughened laminated inner glazing for overhead safety.
• Project daylight strategy: fixed structural glazing used above sliding doors, within bedrooms, beside the double-height stairwell and in the bathroom to distribute daylight through areas where conventional windows were limited.

Green Hedges demonstrates how architectural glass for views of the Cornish coast can be planned around both outlook and privacy rather than simply maximising glass everywhere. Sliding doors address access and ventilation, frameless picture windows capture selected views, and structural glazing brings daylight into deeper parts of the three-dimensional plan.

The project is a strong example of framing coastal views with architectural glazing while maintaining a controlled relationship with the road and surrounding landscape.

Architects and specifiers working on comparable coastal glazing projects can contact IQ Glass for technical advice on slim sliding door configurations, structural glazing, Juliette balconies and coastal glass specifications.