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How to design light into houses with north-facing back gardens

As every architect knows, orientation has a big impact on daylight levels inside buildings. Here's how the strategic specification and positioning of rooflights lifted a south London property out of the gloom

In association with
A bespoke Stella rooflight and sliding doors below create expansive skyscapes and vistas.
A bespoke Stella rooflight and sliding doors below create expansive skyscapes and vistas. Credit: Stylist, Sophie Meacock / Here There + Home. Matt Clayton Photography

Clients Katherine and James contacted Cox Architects at the height of the pandemic in 2020 when they were thinking of upsizing to a larger house they had viewed in south London.

However, being light-loving New Zealanders, they worried that, because the back garden faced north, the house would be too dark.

Cox reassured them that the right design would ensure lots of natural light to the interior while improving the connection between house and garden.

Budget dictated an upgrade of the existing ground-floor structure rather than a rebuild so the majority of the original building remains unchanged.

To transform the new open-plan living space, the architects and builders Elson Properties commissioned three bespoke rooflights from Stella Rooflight.

  • Three Stella rooflights harvest daylight from three different sides of the property.
    Three Stella rooflights harvest daylight from three different sides of the property. Credit: Stylist, Sophie Meacock / Here There + Home. Matt Clayton Photography
  • Rooflight glazing bars match the sliding door and fixed light window frames below.
    Rooflight glazing bars match the sliding door and fixed light window frames below. Credit: Stylist, Sophie Meacock / Here There + Home. Matt Clayton Photography
  • The five-unit north-facing rooflight being craned into position.
    The five-unit north-facing rooflight being craned into position.
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Stella's bespoke rooflight solution

The main rooflight is of a large fixed design, measuring 5641x2022mm, and consists of four glazing bars and five high performance double-glazed units.

The second fixed rooflight measures 2311x2022mm and the third manually opening rooflight is 1226x2022mm.

All three were manufactured with a 316L stainless steel frame and a high performance marine-grade, powder-coated finish.

The units feature 6mm toughened SGG BioClean Natura glass with a self-clean and solar control outer pane, a 16mm black warm edge spacer filled with argon gas and a 6mm toughened Planitherm One inner pane.

American Ash liners add polish and character to the internal appearance and complement the sleek, modern style of the rest of the property.

Find more on this case study at stellarooflight.co.uk/london-kitchen

For more information and technical support, visit stellarooflight.co.uk


Contact:
01794 745445
info@stellarooflight.co.uk


 

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