Creating a Contemporary Garden Extension Within a Historic Context
The architectural intent for Princelet Street was to introduce a light‑filled extension that felt modern yet deeply respectful of its historic setting. Rather than competing with the existing Georgian fabric, the design uses a restrained palette of brick, glass and steel to complement the rear elevation and garden walls.
A simple pitched form was selected for the extension, with a structural glass roof allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the plan and maintain visual connection with the upper levels of the original house. Inside, natural materials and soft earthy tones were chosen to enhance the sense of warmth and continuity between old and new. The pivot doors were specified as a key transition point between interior and exterior, reinforcing the relationship between the dining space and the garden beyond.
Balancing Heritage Sensitivity, Structural Demands and Openness
Working with a listed building in a dense urban environment presented several challenges. The extension needed to sit comfortably against the existing brickwork while introducing large areas of glazing without overwhelming the historic façade. The architects required a wide opening to the garden but without the visual interruption of multiple vertical profiles or conventional hinged doors.
Structurally, the glass roof and rear elevation required careful load management. A new brick skin was introduced at the rear of the property to support the glazing above while concealing the necessary steel structure. At ground level, the design demanded a clean and accessible threshold solution that would allow the internal and external spaces to read as one continuous environment.
How the minimal windows® Pivot Door System Was Integrated to Resolve the Project Challenges
The minimal windows® pivot door system was integrated as a bespoke solution to meet the architectural and structural requirements of the project. A double opening configuration was created using two pivot doors, each measuring 1.9m wide and 2.1m high, forming a combined opening of 3.8m to the garden. While this arrangement is not a standard configuration, the flexibility of the minimal windows® system allowed it to be engineered specifically for this project.
Each door pivots on a point set 170mm from the outer frame, creating a balanced movement that feels light despite the scale of the glass. The slim framing maintains clarity and openness, while the stainless steel pull handles and concealed locking system preserve the refined aesthetic. An integrated blade drainage system was incorporated at the threshold to manage surface water without disrupting the flush transition between inside and out.
Finished in a matt RAL 7002 powder coat, the frames subtly echo the tones of the surrounding brickwork and garden, allowing the doors to sit quietly within the overall composition of the extension.
A Spitalfields Extension Defined by Double Opening Pivot Doors
The completed extension at Princelet Street demonstrates how contemporary glazing can be carefully integrated into a historic urban setting. The double opening pivot doors in Spitalfields provide a strong visual and physical connection to the garden while maintaining the architectural integrity of the Georgian townhouse.
The project stands as a clear example of how minimal windows® systems can support bespoke solutions for sensitive residential extensions, delivering precision, flexibility and understated elegance.
For architects and homeowners exploring pivot door solutions in listed or conservation contexts, our technical team is available to provide advice on specification, detailing and performance.
