Glass extensions for period properties in Yorkshire

If you own a period property and are looking to create more living space, a glass extension can be a great choice.

A well-designed glazed structure can offer a fabulous living space that fulfils the needs of a modern lifestyle while respecting the elements that make traditional homes so appealing.

Glass extensions for period properties

Flood your space with light

Period properties are often much darker inside than their modern counterparts. The beauty of a glass extension for any home is the amount of natural light it brings into your interior living space, and this is particularly desirable in period homes and historic buildings.

And with a brighter interior comes a different perspective on all those lovely period features and original architecture in your home. Designed thoughtfully, your newly-lit space can highlight some of the original architecture and elements you love.

Widen your view

Period properties often have beautiful, established gardens but the restrictive size, number or placement of the windows can potentially prevent you from fully enjoying the view.

Adding a glass extension with floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors will open up the views of your garden or patio and beyond. It’s also great for adding biophilic design elements to your home, allowing you to feel more connected with nature and the outdoors.

Bring together old and new

Adding a modern glass extension to a traditional building begs the question: should it blend in with the period property, or provide a marked contrast to it?

The current thinking from most heritage architects, designers and planners is for a design that strikes a careful balance between old and new. This can mean creating an extension that is sympathetic to the character of the property while being obvious that it is a later addition.

The transparency and clean lines of a glass extension gives it a lightness that ensures it doesn’t impact on the presence of the original property. Its unobtrusive appearance has minimal visual impact on a traditional building and can therefore complement all styles of home. The aluminium frame can be specified in a colour that blends with the original property, or a timber interior frame can be used for a more traditional aesthetic.

For those wanting to create a more marked contrast between old and new, a bespoke glass extension offers the versatility of design to do so. It can be specified with a distinct aluminium frame, such as the Akzent Vision below with industrial rafters on show, to create a visually striking extension that’s noticeably different to the period property. A contrasting colour could be specified for the frame, too.

Designed to fit

Semi-detached period properties, such as those popular in the Victorian era, can have limited outdoor space into which to expand. But with a bespoke glass extension, you can create a design to expand your living space within the confines available. A glass side extension can work particularly well for this, filling the unused narrow space or back yard at the side of a property.

A spacious multifunctional living area

Layouts of homes have changed over the centuries, and period properties can often lack the spacious, open-plan feel of modern houses. Instead, they tend to have smaller rooms, each with a single specific function.

Adding a glass extension can create a modern-day living space in a traditional home. If you are looking to create a sizeable, multifunctional living space in a period property, a bespoke glass extension is a great choice. Premium glass extensions like the ones we provide across Yorkshire offer outstanding thermal properties, and are therefore usable all year round. These versatile spaces can be used for anything you like – from kitchens or kitchen diners to family rooms, home offices or gyms.

Glass extension on a period property with swimming pool.

It can also give you the opportunity to reconfigure the original layout of your home to improve the flow of the living space downstairs. You can add size and scale to your home by creating an open, contemporary living area that suits your lifestyle.

Create an indoor-outdoor living space

A glass extension can also help connect the indoor and outside areas of a period property. By using large sliding doors or bi-folds as part of your extension design, you can create a fabulous indoor-outdoor space. Open the doors when the weather is nice to create a seamless transition between your home and your patio or garden that results in a offering versatility for relaxing and entertaining.

Glass extensions for listed buildings and conservation areas

A glass extension in the North York Moors, Yorkshire.

Because of their age, heritage and historical significance, period properties are more likely to be listed buildings and therefore subject to more stringent rules about the way they can be renovated and extended.

Period properties are often also located in conservation areas, AONBs (areas of outstanding natural beauty) or national parks, such as the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, where stricter rules also apply. There may be a requirement to obtain planning permission where usually it would be covered by permitted development rights. There may also be a stipulation to use specific materials that are sympathetic to the fabric of the existing home.

With their light and transparent appearance, glass extensions can have a low visual impact on a period property, allowing it to retain its historic integrity and setting within its surroundings.

A premium bespoke glass extension, using high-quality materials and customised for colour, shape and size, allows for a design that is sympathetic to a building’s character and heritage. It offers the versatility to create an extension that fulfils planners’ and conservation officers’ requirements for listed buildings or those in specific areas subject to more stringent rules.

You can find out more in our article about glass extensions in conservation areas and national parks.

Your local council website and the Government planning portal are good places to check whether your period property is subject to certain rules. You could also seek specialist advice from a conservation architect who can advise on the rules.

Planning permission for glass extensions on period properties

Glass extensions usually fall within permitted development and therefore do not need planning permission. But for period properties that are listed buildings or sit within an area with conservation status, planning permission and listed building consent will be needed.

We would always recommend taking advice from your local council and using a specialist architect to ensure your home extension adheres to planning rules.

Structural considerations

Glass extensions are a self-supporting addition to your home rather than a structural element. They are not the same as structural glazing and cannot be used to provide support for the main property.

However, your glass extension may be part of a wider renovation project. This may include, for example, removing the wall between your period property and your new extension to create an open-plan living space. In this case, structural work will be involved and you will need to comply with building regulations. It’s important to use other professionals for this who have expertise in structural work. A qualified structural engineer will be able to carry out the required calculations and advise on how the work should be carried out.

As specialist glass extension providers, therefore, we do not carry out any structural work ourselves. However, we work closely with an independent structural engineer to ensure that our glass extensions are structurally sound, safe and robust.

We also liaise at an early stage with the builder and architect on any project that involves one of our glass extensions.

You can read more here about how we work with our structural engineer to ensure the safety and stability of our glass extensions.

Design ideas for glass extensions on period properties

Designing a glass extension for an older building offers the opportunity to highlight the traditional features that you love about your home, while creating a modern space that suits your lifestyle. Things to consider include:

• Retain the original external wall, or part of it, that your extension is being added to, so that its original features are preserved. It could be turned into a focal point within the interior of your new glass structure.

• Equally, any original internal features of your home could be used to inform the colour palette or choice of furniture in your new living space.

• Specify interior wood for the glass extension to give it a more traditional feel in keeping with the history of your home.

Glass extensions for period properties in Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s period properties range from the Victorian semis of Leeds and Harrogate, Hull’s Georgian townhouses and York’s even older buildings, to rustic traditional farmhouses and opulent country manors.

If you are lucky enough to own a period property and are looking to create additional living space, why not take a look at the premium Solarlux glass extensions we offer across Yorkshire.

Solarlux is renowned by architects across the world for its bespoke glazing solutions. Its glass extensions are manufactured in Germany using the very best materials and with the benefit of 40 years of research and development into glazing and thermal technologies. With a huge range of possible configurations and colours, as well as slim aluminium profiles, Solarlux glass extensions can be designed to complement or contrast with any style of property.