Rear glass extension to a listed farmhouse

Open corner sliding doors for a wrap-around glass façade

Slim framed sliding glass doors form the principal elevations of the extension, wrapping around the new dining and living spaces to create a broad connection with the landscape.

The doors meet at an opening corner, also referred to as a floating corner, allowing the glass panels to slide away without leaving a permanent corner post within the aperture. When fully opened, the configuration removes the visual and physical division between the internal space and garden.

This open corner arrangement allows the rear glass extension to a listed farmhouse to function as a flexible indoor-outdoor space while maintaining a lightweight appearance beside the original building.

Flush threshold detailing on sloping ground

A flush threshold was incorporated beneath the sliding glass doors to create a level transition between the new living spaces and the garden. This supports easier movement through the opening and strengthens the visual continuity between the interior and exterior.

The detail required careful coordination because of the uneven, sloping ground surrounding the farmhouse. The base construction, drainage and sliding tracks had to be integrated with the wider extension build while maintaining the minimal appearance of the glazing.

The completed threshold allows the wrap-around glass façade to meet the landscape through a controlled architectural junction.

Technical details

• Slim framed sliding doors: 21mm sightline; max tested sliding pane 8.5m², up to 4m high and 500kg; glass thickness 26–32mm; typical Ug 1.0 W/m²K; typical Uw >1.1 W/m²K; Air Class 4 / Driving Rain Class 7A / Wind Class C4/B5; sound insulation up to 39dB; PAS 24 security
• Open corner configuration: sliding panels move away from the junction to create a post-free corner opening; opening angles available from 65° to 177°; surrounding structure requires a live-load deflection tolerance of ±5mm
• Oversized glazing: wind-loading calculations completed for the exposed rural site; vertical profiles selected according to glass height, panel weight and project-specific wind pressure
• Threshold detail: flush transition between the internal living space and garden; base framing and drainage coordinated with the uneven sloping ground
• Wrap-around façade: slim sliding doors arranged around the rear extension to form glazed elevations across the informal dining and family living spaces

Architectural glazing for listed farmhouse extensions

Homestead Farm demonstrates how a wrap-around glazed extension can introduce daylight, flexible living space and wide landscape views without competing with the character of a listed rural property.

This approach is suited to architects and specifiers working on farmhouse and heritage renovations where oversized sliding doors, open corners, wind loading and threshold interfaces must be resolved as one coordinated glazing package.

Planning a similar rear glass extension to a listed farmhouse? Contact IQ Glass for technical advice on slim sliding doors, open corner configurations and glazing design for exposed rural properties.