Shoreham Beach House

Beach front home in Brighton

Shoreham Beach House is a contemporary beach front home in Brighton, designed around a clear architectural contrast between its northern and southern façades. The north elevation faces an eclectic street scene of post-war bungalows and uses flush structural glazing with Corian to create a private, abstract façade. The south elevation opens towards the Sussex coastline through large-format sliding glass assemblies.

IQ Glass supplied and installed the bespoke architectural glazing package, including structural glass panels, minimal windows® sliding doors, glass balustrades and internal glass screens. The glazing was required to support the architect’s concept of privacy and openness while responding to the exposed coastal location, salt-laden air, high wind conditions and specialist handling demands of large glass units.

Products Used

Featured In

Eldrige

Project Partners

Architect: Eldridge London
Contractor: Roots Construction

Lyndon Douglas Photography 

Location

Brighton
Beach Front Home in Brighton - Shoreham Beach House
Beach Front Home in Brighton - Shoreham Beach House

Beach front home in Brighton with contrasting coastal façades

The central design challenge at Shoreham Beach House was to resolve two opposing site conditions through one coordinated glazing strategy. The north elevation required privacy from the street while maintaining the visual precision of a contemporary façade. IQ Glass supplied and installed bespoke structural glass panels that sit flush with the Corian cladding, creating a controlled and abstract street-facing elevation.

Several of the double-glazed structural glass units incorporated an acid-etch finish, allowing privacy to be built into the façade without adding secondary screening or visual clutter. Each panel was treated with a marine-grade finish to support long-term durability in the coastal environment.

On the south elevation, the architectural requirement was reversed. The house opens towards the Sussex coastline through large-format sliding glass doors, allowing the main living spaces to capture uninterrupted beach views. This contrast between enclosure and transparency is central to the architectural identity of the beach front home in Brighton, with glazing used to mediate between privacy, exposure and outlook.

Large-format sliding glass facing the Sussex coastline

IQ Glass installed minimal windows® sliding door systems across the south elevation to create expansive openings towards the beach. The slim framed sliding doors allow the coastal outlook to remain the focus, with large areas of glass and minimal visible framing supporting the clean architectural language of the façade.

The scale of the sliding glass assemblies required careful planning and specialist installation. One of the largest glass panels measured approximately 1.9m wide by 5.7m high and weighed around 500kg. A specialist crane was used to lift and position the glass accurately, allowing the large units to be installed safely within the exposed beachfront setting.

Glass balustrades and internal glass screens

The south elevation includes multiple cantilevered balconies that provide architectural articulation and solar shading to the internal spaces. IQ Glass installed bespoke glass balustrades to the balcony edges, maintaining transparency across the façade while meeting the required safety performance.

The balustrades incorporated Lintec Vision Control Film, allowing visual control without disrupting the clean lines of the glass structure. Internally, IQ Glass also supplied and installed glass screens to define spaces without interrupting light flow or visual connection.

The timber-lined master bedroom appears to float above the main living volume, with structural glass supports carefully integrated to create a clean interface between the glass, timber and surrounding architectural finishes.

Beach Front Home in Brighton - Shoreham Beach House
Beach Front Home in Brighton - Shoreham Beach House

Performance considerations

Performance detailing at Shoreham Beach House was shaped by the exposed coastal location, the scale of the glazing and the need for long-term durability in a marine environment. The north elevation required flush structural glazing that could maintain a clean external appearance while providing privacy from the street. The use of acid-etched double-glazed units allowed privacy to be achieved without compromising the abstract quality of the façade.

The south elevation required large sliding glass assemblies capable of framing uninterrupted coastal views while responding to high wind exposure. The largest units required specialist lifting and careful sequencing during installation, with a crane used to manage the scale and weight of the glass safely.

Marine-grade finishes were used across the external glazing elements to improve durability in salt-laden air. This was essential for a beach front home in Brighton, where corrosion resistance, weathering and long-term surface performance were key parts of the glazing specification.

Over 35 bespoke glass pieces were installed across the project, including structural glass panels, large sliding door units, balcony balustrades and internal glass screens. Each element had to be coordinated as part of a single architectural glazing package, supporting the contrast between the private north façade, the open coastal south façade and the internal glazed volumes.

Technical details

  • Frameless structural glazing: thermally broken fixing system; 63mm profile depth; max glass thickness 41.5mm; expected Uw 1.1 W/m²K; minimum fixing setback 55mm; profile height 60mm; structure deflection allowance 5mm; project used bespoke double-glazed structural glass panels with marine-grade finish and selected acid-etch units to the north elevation
  • Slim framed sliding doors: 21mm sightline; max tested sliding pane 8.5m² up to 4.0m high and 500kg; glass thickness 26–32mm; 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; south elevation used large-format coastal sliding assemblies for uninterrupted beach views
  • Glass balustrades: toughened laminated glass; max glass thickness 21.5mm / 21.52mm; max height 1100mm; max pane width up to 6000mm project-dependent; line load 1–3kN depending on fixing; balcony balustrades incorporated Lintec Vision Control Film for visual control
  • Large-pane installation: largest glass panel approx. 1.9m W x 5.7m H; approx. 500kg panel weight; over 35 bespoke glass pieces installed; specialist crane used due to scale, weight and exposed coastal conditions

Coastal glazing for exposed beachfront homes

Shoreham Beach House shows how coastal architectural glazing can resolve the competing requirements of privacy, exposure, sea views and marine durability within one coordinated package.

This approach is well suited to architects and specifiers designing beachfront homes where structural glazing, slim sliding doors, glass balustrades and marine-grade finishes need to be considered together from the early design stages.

To discuss a similar beach front home in Brighton or another exposed coastal project, contact IQ Glass for technical advice on structural glass façades, sliding door configurations, glass balustrades, marine-grade finishes and large-pane installation strategies.

Associated Products

luxury new build home with minimal glass facade

Slim Framed Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding doors with ultra-slim sightlines, offering only the highest levels of performance and durability.

Bespoke Glazing

Bespoke glass that pushes the boundaries of architectural glazing.

Decorative Glass

Decorative glass is a versatile material used in architecture, interior design, and art. It can be etched, stained, fused, laminated, and textured for applications such as partitions, doors, windows, and art installations.
silver house glass balcony

Glass Balconies & Balustrades

Frameless structural glass balconies that can cantilever from a building.

Glass Walls

Using structural glass to create large glass walls of any size and specification.

Internal Glass Partitions

Internal glass partitions are sleek and modern alternatives to traditional walls, offering transparency, soundproofing, and flexibility to commercial and residential spaces. They enhance natural light and promote collaboration while maintaining privacy.

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