The Lea is a Grade II listed farmhouse located in the rural landscape of Upper Sapey in Worcestershire. Surrounded by traditional red brick architecture, timber framing and the rolling countryside of the Teme Valley, the property combines historic roots with a contemporary new extension designed by Hook Mason. IQ Glass was commissioned to provide the specialist glazing for this addition, including a U shaped sliding glass façade arranged across three elevations. These elements form the core of the design strategy and demonstrate how oversized sliding doors in Worcestershire can redefine rural heritage homes by creating a modern relationship between the interior and the surrounding landscape.
Products Used
Project Partners
Architect- Hook Mason
Location
Worcestershire
Design Context & Challenges for a Contemporary Extension to a Grade II Listed Farmhouse
Extending the Grade II listed farmhouse came with a set of very specific architectural challenges. Traditional rural homes often have deep floor plans and relatively small window openings, which makes bringing natural light into new living areas far from straightforward. Because the original red‑brick farmhouse holds significant heritage value, any addition needed to feel clearly contemporary while still respecting the character and proportions of the existing building. The owners were keen for the new rooms to feel open and connected to the landscape, but glazing choices had to comply with the strict regulations that govern listed properties in Worcestershire.
The extension was envisioned as a crisp, modern counterpoint to the historic structure, defined by a flat metal‑clad roof and generous areas of glazing. Achieving a sense of lightness across three adjoining façades required careful structural coordination and refined detailing. The brief also called for long, uninterrupted sightlines and a seamless relationship between the internal tiled floor and the external terrace. Meeting these ambitions meant developing a bespoke glazing solution capable of spanning large openings, delivering flush thresholds, and maintaining minimal, unobtrusive framing.
Intergrating a U Shaped Sliding Glass Wall Across Three Elevations
IQ Glass created a continuous U shaped glass wall that wraps around three sides of the new extension. The system stands at a consistent height of 2.6 metres, unifying the north-east, south-east and south-west elevations into one coherent architectural gesture.
On the north-east elevation, a two track, two panel sliding door configuration creates the first leg of the U shape. The 4.3 metre wide elevation includes one fixed unit and one sliding panel, meeting the south-east elevation through a 90 degree slim corner frame. This detail highlights the precision of the glazing design and supports clear visual continuity around the extension.
The south-east elevation forms the longest glazed span at 11.5 metres. The three track arrangement allows all panels to slide, offering flexible opening patterns depending on the requirements of the homeowners. Whether opened to the left or right, the effect is the same a large, generous aperture that dissolves the boundary between inside and outside.
Intergrating Open‑Corner Sliding Systems with Complementary Fixed Panels
The glazing strategy at The Lea culminates in the sliding 90 degree corner that connects the north-east and south-east elevations. When opened, the two panels slide away from one another to create a fully open corner. This brings panoramic views into the living space and frames the garden and countryside beyond in a way that traditional rural homes rarely achieve.
On the south-west elevation, a fixed glass panel measuring 2.2 metres wide forms the final side of the U shaped façade. Connected to the south-east elevation by another slim 90 degree frame, this fixed element completes the wraparound glazing without compromising structural clarity. Its role is to stabilise the glazing composition while maintaining the all important transparency that supports the overall design vision.
All elevations use the same thermally broken aluminium framing system with a flush threshold. Internal and external dark grey tiles flow seamlessly from the living space to the terrace, ensuring a consistent finish and reinforcing the visual and physical connection to the landscape. The frames are finished in RAL 7016 PPC, a colour chosen to complement both the modern extension and the farmhouse’s traditional materials.
Additional Project information
The sliding door system used at The Lea is triple glazed and engineered for high insulation. Each glazed unit combines multiple layers of 6 millimetre toughened glass with two 15 millimetre argon gas cavities. This performance driven specification provides excellent thermal comfort throughout the year, which is particularly beneficial in exposed rural settings like Upper Sapey.
The combination of advanced glazing and thoughtful architectural design creates a contemporary extension that is not only visually compelling but also highly efficient. Given the farmhouse’s Grade II listing and extensive landholding, improvements of this scale often enhance long term property value, particularly in desirable rural locations where modern amenities and heritage character are both expected by high end buyers.
Technical Details:
- Three sided U shaped sliding glass façade across north-east, south-east and south-west elevations
- 2 track, 2 panel sliding door on north-east elevation: 4.3 metres wide, 1 fixed and 1 sliding panel
- 3 track, all sliding configuration on south-east elevation: 11.5 metres wide
- Fixed glass panel on south-west elevation: 2.2 metres wide
- Two 90 degree corners including one fully opening sliding corner
- Triple glazed specification: 6mm toughened outer panel, 15mm argon cavity, 6mm toughened inner panel, 15mm argon cavity, 6mm toughened inner panel
- Thermally broken aluminium frame with flush threshold
- RAL 7016 PPC finish
For architects and homeowners looking to transform rural heritage properties in Worcestershire, this project illustrates how oversized sliding doors in Worcestershire can reshape the way traditional buildings engage with the landscape. The Lea demonstrates how a carefully designed U shaped glazing system can introduce expansive views, natural light and a contemporary lifestyle element into a Grade II listed home without compromising its historic identity.
If you are planning a renovation, designing a rural extension or specifying glazing for a listed property, IQ Glass can provide feasibility assessments, technical support and bespoke glazing solutions tailored to your project.
Click here to contact our team for expert guidance.
