Let there be light
Emyr Davies of Arboreta and sister company Welsh Oak Frame believes the trend for light spaces is set to continue, but needs careful thought if all that extra glass is not to lead to extra problems
often come near the top of the list. In fact, it is a major design factor in almost every extension project, from a two or three storey project, to the smallest conservatory. There is a real tension between the desire for
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a light filled space with large areas of glazing and the practical demands of maintaining energy efficiency and avoiding over heating. We have all experienced the poorly sited, badly designed conservatory that is freezing in winter and a sauna in summer. Yet many recent design trends including
bi-fold doors, rooflights and atriums are all centred on bringing more light into the home, so it’s very clear that this is a high priority for both complete self-builds and extensions. This in turn has also created a fresh, contemporary approach to designing buildings or extensions built in the most traditional ways, such as oak frame. When you first say the words oak frame, it
immediately conjures up pictures of heavy black and white beams, with small lead paned windows – the ‘Shakespearean’ oak frame. Yet today’s oak frame extensions and buildings are notable for their large areas of glazing – often coupled with balconies and terraces – creating a seamless flow between the interior and garden space and truly bringing the outdoors indoors. To some extent this is picking up on design
trends which have been popular in some parts of the USA, especially the beach houses found on the east and west coasts, as well as
hen homebuyers are asked to rank the things they want most in a house, the words “light and airy”
contemporary Scandinavian design trends – both regions of the world with a strong tradition in timber frame design and construction. Indeed, the history of glass and windows is fascinating and revealing. Part of the reason for those small lead paned windows of 400 years ago was down to glass manufacturing and transport techniques, as there simply wasn’t the technology to create large, flawless sheets of glass. Price was also a big factor, as glass was very expensive. We should also remember that in England
and Wales we had a window tax for over 150 years, from 1696 to 1851. This was introduced as a way of raising taxes at a time when people opposed the idea of an income tax and was seen to be ‘fair’, as only the wealthy could afford windows. There was a flat rate per house and then a variable rate for 10-20 windows and a higher rate for 20 windows or more. This is why on many buildings from the 1700s, you will see blocked up windows, as they were designed to be opened up or sealed again as fortunes fluctuated. Today, large areas of glazing can impose a
different form of tax in the shape of much higher energy bills if they are not designed to be energy efficient, with double or triple glazed sealed units. Estimates vary according to the house design but between 10 per cent and 25
per cent of a building’s total heat loss can occur through windows. Conversely, with temperatures in the UK increasing, over-heating is also becoming more of an issue with large glazed areas. Fortunately, glass manufacturers are developing a range of options for solar glazing, with different films or coatings applied to the glass and even the development of ‘photochromic’ types of glass, which react to the light and will transition from clear to dark, almost like wearing sunglasses. However, as well as these modern technologies, good design principles can go a long way to creating a successful light filled extension. For example, think carefully about the orientation of the building. It’s obvious that
42 selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk
Good design principles can go a long way to creating a successful, light filled extension
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