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Case study

Bringing Natural Light to a Historic Oxford Extension

A two-story stone house with a red-tiled roof, featuring white windows and a double door entrance. A garden with blooming tulips is visible in the foreground, and a blue sky with fluffy clouds stretches above.
Overview

Transforming a heritage property in the Old Headington Conservation Area into a modern, light-filled home demanded strict architectural precision and high-quality materials. A combination of Glazing Vision fixed and opening rooflights introduced daylight and vital ventilation into the award-shortlisted, zinc-clad extension.

Details

Status

Complete

Architect

Resonant Architecture

Contractor

Classic Builders Ltd

Images

Tim Rawle
Products used
A view of a brick wall with a large arched stained glass window. Light streams through the window, illuminating the space. A diagonal white ceiling contrasts with the rustic brick.
Flushglaze Wall Abutted Rooflight
Two skylights in a white ceiling, showing a blue sky with scattered clouds. A single pendant light hangs below one of the skylights.
Visionvent Vent Only Rooflight

Project Overview: Old Headington Conservation Area

Located within the Old Headington Conservation Area in Oxford, this unique property has a rich history; originally forming part of the historic Headington Manor, the property consists of two older buildings that were joined together via an infill extension in the 1950s.

The oldest building on the site was originally an ancillary building within the manor, dating back to around the late eighteenth century.

Charming two-story house with a combination of stone and white stucco exterior. A green front door is flanked by large windows, and a pathway made of stone and gravel leads to the entrance. Lush greenery surrounds the property under a partly cloudy sky.

The Architectural Brief

Untouched since the 1960s, the home was in need of modernisation and repairs. The new owners tasked Resonant Architecture with transforming the site into a unified contemporary home. Best practices in heritage conservation required avoiding imitative historical styles, ensuring each era of the building's history remained clearly distinguishable.

To achieve this, the architects replaced a tired ground-floor conservatory with a sleek, fully insulated, zinc-clad extension designed to house a modern open-plan interior.

A bright dining area with a long wooden table, surrounded by various chairs. Natural light streams in through large glass doors that open to a garden. The room features terracotta tile flooring, hanging plants, and decorative artwork on the walls.

Strategic Daylighting: Eradicating Dark Corners

A contemporary open-plan space requires strategic overhead glazing to ensure it feels bright and welcoming, as extensions are notorious for dark and gloomy corners where traditional windows do not reach.

The project utilises a Wall Abutted Flushglaze Rooflight, carefully positioned to draw uninterrupted daylight deep into the heart of the new zinc-clad extension.

The minimalist, frameless internal views of the Flushglaze ensure the modern aesthetic remains clean and unobtrusive.

A bright, airy hallway with a skylight allowing sunlight to stream in. A staircase with white railings leads down, and a round light fixture hangs from the ceiling. A textured rug runs along the floor, and a glimpse of a room is visible through an open door in the background.

Climate Control & Passive Ventilation

Because the new extension features modern, high-performance insulation, effective climate control was essential to the home’s thermal comfort. Glazing Vision specified two Electric VisionVent Rooflights, which allow for controllable natural ventilation on demand, allowing occupants to maintain a comfortable internal environment throughout the year..

Acting as a stack effect, the units passively vent warm, stale air through the roof and promote cross-flow ventilation, they keep the new space comfortable and fresh during the warmer months, eliminating the need for mechanical cooling.

A cozy living room featuring a light gray sofa, a blue couch, and a round table. A bookshelf filled with books lines one wall, while a fireplace adds warmth to the space. Natural light streams in through large windows, enhancing the inviting atmosphere.

An Award-Shortlisted Architectural Success

Recently shortlisted for an Oxford Preservation Trust award, the completed project masterfully bridges three centuries of architectural history, harmonising the original local stone and Shotover brick with modern zinc cladding, whilst ensuring Part L compliance. Thanks to the seamless integration of our rooflights, the new interior spaces are not only bathed in natural light but also benefit from easily manageable airflow.

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​CONTACT​

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​General Data Protection Regulation​

The General Data Protection Regulation provides a framework to ensure that personal information is handles properly.

As a company, Glazing Vision Limited must ensure that this information is:

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