Hellidon

This contemporary Passivhaus certified home sits within the grounds of a Grade II listed estate, balancing advanced building performance with sensitivity to its historic context. Designed to feel quietly integrated into the landscape, the property uses full height glazing and ultra slim sightlines to maximise natural light and frame uninterrupted views of the Northamptonshire countryside. The specification of Slim Sliding Doors for Passivhaus enabled the architects to achieve exceptional thermal efficiency while maintaining a clean, minimalist architectural language.

The design intent for Hellidon was to create a contemporary home that would sit harmoniously within the grounds of a Grade II listed property while achieving the exacting standards of Passivhaus design. The architectural vision centred on delivering a building that was both highly energy efficient and deeply connected to its rural Northamptonshire setting, balancing modern living requirements with a sensitive response to the surrounding historic landscape. 

A key objective was to maximise natural light and frame uninterrupted views across the countryside. Large expanses of glazing were therefore fundamental to the design, allowing the interior spaces to feel open, bright and immersed in nature. However, achieving this level of transparency needed to be carefully balanced with the thermal performance and airtightness requirements essential to Passivhaus construction. 

The glazing specification or this Passivhaus certified home was driven by the need for exceptional thermal efficiency, airtightness and year round comfort. The Slim Sliding Doors for Passivhaus deliver outstanding U‑values, high levels of airtightness and excellent solar control, ensuring the building meets the stringent performance criteria associated with Passivhaus design.

Large insulated glass units maintain internal temperature stability while maximising daylight, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and supporting the home’s low‑energy strategy. Ultra‑slim profiles preserve transparency and architectural clarity without compromising the building’s thermal envelope, demonstrating how advanced glazing technology can enhance both sustainability and design intent.

The installation of the glazing package at Hellidon required careful planning and precise coordination to meet both the architectural aspirations of the project and the stringent performance requirements of Passivhaus construction. Given the scale of the glazed openings and the importance of achieving exceptional airtightness, every detail was considered from the earliest stages of the build. 

Working closely with the project team, minimal windows ensured that the Slim Sliding Doors for Passivhaus were integrated seamlessly into the building envelope, with particular attention given to thermal continuity, weatherproofing and threshold detailing. The large-format glass panels were installed to exacting tolerances, ensuring smooth operation whilst maintaining the high levels of performance demanded by the Passivhaus standard. 

The completed Hellidon project demonstrates how slim sliding doors in Northampton can transform a residential design. Delivering exactly what the design team set out to achieve a highly efficient Passivhaus dwelling that sits quietly within its historic setting while feeling open, light filled and connected to the landscape. The integration of minimal windows Slim Sliding Doorsfor Passivhaus ensures exceptional thermal performance without compromising the clean, minimalist aesthetic.

• System: keller minimal windows 4+ sliding door systems
• Quantity: 4 sets of slim sliding doors
• Glass: Tripple glazed toughened safety glass
• Mesurements: 2,7m wide x2.5m tall
• Uw value: 0.95 W/m2k
• Ug value: 0.5W /m2k
• Wind load: 0.65Kn/m2
• Weight of each door: approx 578kg
• Lock: Type 2 Lock
• Glass specified as Pilkingtons Optitherm S1Plus
• All framing thermally broken aluminium finish in C34 anidised
• Glass heat soaked and tested for duribility and safety