DOORS, WINDOWS & FITTINGS
HARPENDEN HOUSE:‘ WARM MODERNITY ' AND STRUCTURAL GLAZING
Harpenden House is a RIBA award-winning renovation by Emil Eve Architects featuring IDSystems glazing. Previously used as a nursery, the building has been transformed into a light-filled family home that masterfully blends period character with a Scandi aesthetic.
THE VISION: BROKEN PLAN LIVING
The brief was to strip back the dated interior and create a contemporary space suitable for modern family life, prioritising a seamless connection between the indoors and the garden. Rather than a single monolithic extension, the architects designed a striking full-width rear extension composed of three staggered, angled volumes.
Emma Perkin, founder of Emil Eve Architects, explains:“ We added three angled volumes to the rear, each topped with a sawtooth roof that flows across the extension. The staggered form breaks up the overall scale, helping it sit comfortably against the original house.”
The new ground floor is designed for versatility. The kitchen, dining, and living spaces interconnect but can be separated as needed. Each room opens to the garden independently, including a sheltered patio where two rooms meet at a stunning post-free open corner sliding doors that break down the boundary between interior and exterior. but also by how the light is modulated through four different-sized rooflights placed within the sawtooth-shaped roof. The client is relishing the experience of living with the changing pattern of daylight and expressed her enjoyment of watching the movement of light across the spaces.”
THE GLAZING: THREE WAYS TO SLIDE
For the glazing, the owners followed the architects’ recommendation and selected IDSystems’ awardwinning theEDGE2.0 ultra-slim sliding doors. With 20mm sightlines, these doors offer nearuninterrupted views and high-performance insulation – ideal for year-round use.
Edward Stobart, Technical Sales Manager at IDSystems, collaborated closely with the team:“ The clients wanted more than just an open connection – they wanted to feel linked to the garden at all times. Sliding doors with slim frames were the ideal choice, and the placement of the large rooflights above enhances that connection, flooding the interiors with natural light.”
The extension has proven popular not only with the homeowners, it has also found favour with the RIBA awards judges, picking up a RIBA East award for 2025 with the judges stating:“ The interior space is broken up not only by the functional uses
The design uses IDSystems sliding doors in three configurations to define the space:
• Kitchen: A 3-panel set that stacks neatly to maximise space.
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