The Garden Room House is a Grade II* listed property in Hinton Waldrist, Oxfordshire, refurbished and extended with a contemporary glass volume to improve light, views and daily use of the rear living spaces. West Waddy Architects led the renovation, adding a modern glazed extension that contrasts sensitively with the traditional character of the cottage. IQ Glass was appointed to design and install the architectural glazing package, including slim sliding doors, a large structural glass roof with glass beams, a slim framed aluminium pivot door and frameless balustrades. These elements create a refined sliding door extension in Oxfordshire that opens the home to its re‑landscaped tiered garden while preserving the historic identity of the building.
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Homebuilding and Renovating April 2016 – 15 New Home Design Ideas
Location
Introducing Contemporary Glazing to a Listed Heritage Home
As a Grade II* listed dwelling, the property required an extension that offered improved natural light and spatial flow while respecting the massing and materials of the original structure. The rear elevation lacked connection to the garden, and internal rooms received limited daylight due to the depth of the plan and the historic layout. The architectural challenge was to form a modern addition that differentiated old from new, while avoiding visual dominance and ensuring the extension felt proportionate to the cottage.
A key constraint was designing a glazed structure that complied with heritage requirements, provided controlled drainage and integrated seamlessly with the surrounding solid walls. The extension also needed to accommodate a new first‑floor balcony for the master bedroom without compromising the visual sensitivity of the rear elevation.
Slim Sliding Doors and Structural Glass Roof for Light‑Filled Living Spaces
IQ Glass designed and installed a three‑track, three‑panel slim sliding door system measuring 5.3m wide and 2.6m tall, creating a large opening between the living space and garden. The system was finished in RAL 7016 and installed with a flush threshold and external evaporation channel to maintain step‑free access to the tiered patio and ensure discreet drainage. These sliding doors to the Oxfordshire extension provide uninterrupted views of the garden, minimise internal–external division and introduce daylight across the new open plan living and dining area.
Above the sliding elevation, IQ Glass installed a frameless structural glass roof measuring 3.7m by 6m. The roof is formed from three glass panes supported by two low‑iron laminated glass beams, each consisting of four toughened layers laminated with PVB interlayers. The joints in the roof glazing align precisely with the vertical interlocks of the sliding doors below, maintaining architectural consistency and a clean visual rhythm. The roof incorporates a 3‑degree fall for drainage and connects to solid walls with frameless detailing. The glass beams extend 0.6m beyond the steel structure to create a sheer external edge and drip line, supporting the visual lightness of the extension.
Balcony Access, Frameless Balustrades and Ventilation
To create a small roof terrace outside the master bedroom, IQ Glass installed a slim framed aluminium pivot door measuring 1.1m by 1.9m, finished in RAL 7016. This door provides access to the upper‑level balcony while maintaining a consistent design language with the glazing below. Around the terrace, IQ Glass supplied a U‑shaped frameless balustrade measuring 1.7m deep and 3.5m wide, formed from 2 x 10mm laminated toughened glass with an ionoplast interlayer. The balustrade is fixed at the base with a concealed channel to maintain visual lightness and protect views from the master bedroom.
To introduce additional ventilation and light into the extension, a top‑hung aluminium casement window measuring 1.9m by 0.8m was installed into the solid side wall of the glass box. Finished in RAL 7016 with a double‑glazed unit, the window provides controlled airflow while complementing the surrounding glazing elements.
Heritage Sensitivity and Architectural Clarity
The extension was designed to maintain the original character of the Grade II* listed building while clearly expressing the new intervention through frameless structural glass and slim aluminium systems. The use of a full glass roof supported by glass beams strengthens the differentiation between masonry and contemporary glazing, ensuring the addition reads as a deliberate, lightweight contrast to the historic structure. The re‑landscaped tiered garden enhances the indoor–outdoor connection achieved by the sliding door extension, increasing the home’s long‑term usability and value.
Technical Details
Below is a summary of the key glazing elements installed:
A three‑track slim sliding door system measuring 5.3m x 2.6m, finished in RAL 7016 with a flush threshold and evaporation channel.
A frameless structural glass roof measuring 3.7m x 6m, formed from three panes of glass with glass joints aligned to the sliding door interlocks.
Two low‑iron laminated glass beams supporting the roof, each constructed from four layers of toughened glass laminated together.
A slim framed aluminium pivot door to the master bedroom terrace, measuring 1.1m x 1.9m, finished in RAL 7016.
A frameless U‑shaped balustrade measuring 1.7m x 3.5m, formed from 2 x 10mm laminated toughened glass with an ionoplast interlayer, base‑fixed in a hidden channel.
A top‑hung aluminium casement window measuring 1.9m x 0.8m, finished in RAL 7016 and double glazed.
Structural glass roof specification included 8mm outer toughened, 16mm argon cavity and 2 x 6mm laminated inner with a low‑e coating.
Sliding door glass specification included 8mm outer toughened, 14mm argon cavity and 8mm inner toughened with a low‑e coating.
Sliding Door Extension in Oxfordshire
For architects, developers and homeowners planning a sliding door extension in Oxfordshire, this project demonstrates how modern glazing can sensitively enhance listed buildings while improving light, space and connection to the landscape. IQ Glass provides technical guidance, design coordination and bespoke glazing solutions for heritage and contemporary projects across Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. Contact our team to discuss your project requirements.
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