The Clear Choice for a Contemporary Vision – Glass Box Extensions
What are glass box extensions, why should I consider one and how good are they?
Adding space to the home will typically take the form of a traditional bricks and mortar extension, a conservatory or an orangery – all of which have their pros and cons. Increasingly, however, for those homeowners and developers seeking to achieve the ‘wow’ factor and maximise natural light in their new space in a minimalist, contemporary style, a glass box or ‘glass box conservatory’ represents the obvious choice.
As all James Price glass box extensions are completely bespoke, the opportunity to deliver outstanding visual appeal is unrivalled because they are designed and constructed to feature either the slimmest of aluminium frames or be completely frameless. The chosen approach for any glass box extension will depend on a number of factors – individual taste, the application and situation, its design intent and the budget.
Whichever style of glass box is selected, the end result will be a stunning visual feature that often brings a synergy between the old and new in a unique way.
Truly frameless glass boxes
A frameless glass box is constructed using structural glazing elements, chiefly laminated glass fins and glass beams, instead of metal elements. The result is a structurally robust glass box that provides clear sightlines with minimal visual interruption, other than the joints between the double or triple glazed units.
This is why frameless glass boxes are a popular choice for extending heritage buildings where the intent is to ensure the external beauty of the original building can be maintained. Notable features such as stone walls, timber beams and architectural metalwork need not be covered or hidden by the new extension and instead can become attractive features to blend the traditional and contemporary.
James Price offers fully structurally glazed solutions through its G-span Structural Glass system. This enables glass box designs to be created that incorporate features such as heated glass – to replace the need for underfloor heating or radiators – as well as laminated options that reduce cleaning and maintenance demands.
Choosing a frameless option maximises light transmission and, by using today’s most advanced glass products, this goes hand-in-hand with high levels of thermal insulation to keep the glass box warm in winter and excellent solar control to prevent overheating in summer.
The perfect blend of steel and glass
The other main approach to creating glass box extensions is to utilise a slim steel frame structure, finished in a RAL colour of choice or a special treatment, to support double or triple glazed units. This offers vast creative potential given that more than 600 colours are available for the powder coating of the steel frame.
These materials offer a superb visual combination that works equally well for traditional and contemporary architecture. And because the steel frame offers strength with the slimmest profile, glass box extensions created in this way ensure clear sightlines and maximum light transmission are achieved.
As with frameless structural glass boxes, these can be configured to feature the most advanced glass products to optimise comfort and use.
A seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors.
Glass box extensions give the feeling of being outdoors whilst retaining internal comfort. Access between the two spaces is provided through integrated glass doors which are designed to maintain the visual appeal of the structure with the slimmest of framing – including in frameless structural glass boxes.
A range of door options is available from James Price, all of which can be configured to offer design consistency and the required access. One popular choice is slimline sliding doors which open up to give clear access to the extension from a garden or patio area.
How we create a glass box extension
Getting the design right is stage one, which is why every glass box extension project will start with a visit to the property. This provides the opportunity to discuss the glazing and frame options available. Following this, structural glazing specialists work closely with the project architect to arrive at the final bespoke design.
The design process allows for every aspect of the new glazing structure to be tailored, for example, to incorporate features such as heated or low maintenance glass. Once the glass box design and specification is approved, the James Price team finalises the plans and liaises with the architect and client to arrange an installation date.
All James Price glass box extensions are bespoke and made to order with a lead time usually around 4 weeks from order placement to the installation date.
Find out more
For glass box style inspiration, specialist technical advice and design guidance, please contact the James Price team on 0151 523 3131 or email glazing@jprice-group.co.uk.
