Satisfyingly seamless sightlines

Fully compatible curtain walling, window and a variety of door systems from Sapa were installed on a home in Cheshire to create a seamless appearance.

This contemporary style, five-bedroom detached house has a floor area of 10,000ft2 and includes an indoor swimming pool, gym and leisure facilities. The property has been constructed on raised land that slopes down to a natural stream with countryside views beyond.

Design architect and managing director of Manchester-based Leach Rhodes Walker, Christian Gilham said: “Creating a sense of light and maximising the spectacular views were key design priorities. These factors made the glazing an important element of the build, requiring a systems package that would deliver the slim sightlines to enhance the views while creating a uniform architectural appearance.

“We also wanted to specify a range of systems that provided dual colour capability as well as contributing first-class thermal and weather performance together with high security throughout the house.”

Sapa provided a full NBS specification for the aluminium systems with typical through sections and full thermal value calculations, as well as budget pricing pre-tender to ensure an accurate tender package.

Meeting the energy efficient U-value of 1.5W/m2K, external doors, windows and curtain walling from the Sapa range were selected for their compatibility and specified with high performance solar performance glazing throughout.

Sapa’s C160 Aluminium Sliding Door system was installed on the indoor swimming pool as a six-pane configuration spanning 11m x 3.6m.

The feature room of the house is a large kitchen diner and lounge area that runs from the front to back, opening on to an orangery, where two sets of Sapa Sliding Folding Doors were installed. One, featuring a six-pane run that splits and opens in the middle, the other, a three-pane configuration that opens to the side.

A curved on-plan bay entrance on the ground floor features faceted Sapa Dualframe 75 HP Aluminium Hinged doors, which creates a balcony area for the master bedroom suite at first floor level where Dualframe doors were installed, opening out on to the balcony. The doors are framed by a raked head detail, produced using Elegance 52 curtain walling to mirror the pitch of the roofline.

Sapa Elegance 52 curtain walling was used to create a full height feature glazed entrance screen, ensuring a light and airy entrance hall, together with two small rooflights that connect the main house to the swimming pool and leisure suite.

The Sapa systems also offer dual colour capability. Finished in charcoal grey to the exterior, the aluminium systems tie in with the slate roof, providing a contrast to the rest of the exterior, which features purpose-made Portuguese limestone and a slightly off-white render. Internally, the systems are finished in white to blend with the interior design scheme.

The main window module comprises Sapa Dualframe 75 Si casement and tilt-before-turn windows throughout the house. All other exterior doors are single and double sets of Dualframe 75 HP Aluminium Hinged residential doors with high security hardware across all of the Sapa systems.