Brass arched doors in Kew were central to the remodelling of this Victorian residence by Michael Jones Architects, with interiors by Linda Boronkay Design Studio. IQ Glass supplied a bespoke steel framed glazing package for the rear extension and interior, combining tall arched external double doors with internal brass framed sliding glass doors and partitions. The glazing strategy supports the building’s status as a Building of Townscape Merit, creating a controlled relationship between the historic house, the sunken lounge, the patio and the art-led interior scheme.
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Project Partners
Architects: Micheal Jones Architects
Interior Designer: Linda Boronkay Design Studio
Contractor: Charlie Cooper
Photo credits: Linda Boronkay Design Studio, Martin Morrell & Micheal Sinclair
Location
Kew
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Brass arched doors in Kew for a Building of Townscape Merit
The design challenge was to replace dated rear extensions with a more refined architectural intervention while preserving the character and proportions of a distinguished Victorian home. The approved design needed to support contemporary family use, larger entertaining spaces and a stronger connection to the garden, without losing the sense of permanence expected from the original building.
The glazing response was a sequence of bespoke brass and bronze framed doors that act as both functional openings and architectural ordering devices. Rather than treating the rear elevation as a simple glazed wall, the design uses arched steel framed double doors to create rhythm, height and a clear reference to the home’s decorative interior language. This allowed the extension to feel contemporary while still maintaining a strong relationship with the scale and townscape value of the property.
Internally, the same brass framed language was carried through to sliding glass partitions, supporting a consistent material strategy between the kitchen, dining space and wider living areas.
Bespoke arched double doors to the rear elevation
The rear extension is defined by five bespoke brass arched double doors, each set within a structural opening of 1535mm and reaching 3159mm in height. These biparting doors open from the sunken lounge to the patio, solving the need for direct garden access while maintaining a formal, vertically proportioned rear elevation.
The individual door leaves are just under 800mm wide, giving each opening a slender rhythm rather than the appearance of a single oversized aperture. Burnished brass handles were shaped to follow the curve of the arched doors, reinforcing the geometry of the frames and allowing the ironmongery to read as part of the architectural composition rather than as a separate applied detail.
Internal sliding glass doors between kitchen and dining
The internal brass framed sliding glass doors form a controlled division between the kitchen and dining area. Positioned above the kitchen island, the internal sliding screen spans 3810mm wide by 1986mm high and is configured with two fixed panels and two discreetly locking opening panes.
This arrangement solves a practical interior challenge: it allows noise and cooking aromas to be managed between the kitchen and dining space while preserving visibility, conversation and the open character of the plan. The brass framed sliding system also continues the burnished metal language used on the rear elevation, tying the internal glazing into the wider architectural and interior design scheme.
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Performance considerations
Performance on this project is based on precision fabrication, thermal separation, controlled internal division and long-term use within a high-end residential setting. The external arched doors use thermally broken steel framing, allowing the rear openings to achieve a more robust external specification while maintaining the slim, decorative steel framed appearance required by the design.
Internally, the sliding glass doors and partitions provide separation without full enclosure, supporting the kitchen and dining arrangement while maintaining light transfer across the plan. The repeated arched external doors also required careful coordination between steel frame geometry, bespoke handles, structural openings and patio access, ensuring that the glazing package worked as a coherent architectural system rather than as isolated feature doors.
The continuity of brass and bronze detailing across the doors, handles, ironmongery and wider interior finishes helps unify the glazing with the residence’s broader design language.
Technical details
- External arched steel framed doors: five bespoke double door sets to the rear extension; each structural opening 1535mm wide; door height 3159mm; biparting arrangement with individual leaves just under 800mm wide; thermally broken external steel framing
- Internal sliding glass doors: brass framed sliding screen spanning 3810mm wide by 1986mm high; configuration includes two fixed panels and two opening panes with discreet locking; used between kitchen and dining space
- Door hardware and finish: burnished brass handles shaped to follow the arched door geometry; brass and bronze detailing coordinated with the wider interior scheme, including ironmongery, light switches, handrail and associated metalwork
- Project context: remodel and rear extension to a Victorian Building of Townscape Merit; featured in Elle Decor and Sotheby’s magazine; glazing package designed to support both external patio access and internal spatial separation
Kew Green shows how brass arched doors in Kew can be used as part of a wider architectural glazing strategy for a high-end Victorian residence. This approach is well suited to architects and specifiers working on townhouse extensions, buildings of townscape merit and design-led interiors where bespoke steel framed doors, internal glass partitions and refined metal finishes need to work together.
To discuss brass arched doors in Kew or a comparable steel framed glazing package, contact IQ Glass for technical advice on bespoke door configurations, internal partitions, material finishes and interface detailing.
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