Rook Hill

Rook Hill was designed as a contemporary family home that combines the proportions and character of a traditional house with modern architectural detailing.

The design replaces an existing dwelling with a new-build home centred around large open-plan living spaces and generous areas of glazing. Floating glazed gables form a defining feature of the architecture, creating a distinctive contrast between the solid natural stone base and the lightweight appearance of the upper glazed elements.

Minimal windows® sliding doors form an important part of the glazing strategy, with multiple configurations used throughout the property. Large sliding openings connect the principal living spaces with the garden, while further installations provide access to external balcony areas on the upper floors.

The wider glazing package also includes structural glazing, aluminium windows, roof glazing and frameless glass balustrades, creating a consistent approach to minimal framing throughout the home.

A key objective of Rook Hill was to create a contemporary family home that remained rooted in the architectural proportions of a traditional house.

LMA Architects achieved this through the combination of pitched forms, natural stone and contemporary glazing. The floating glazed gables give the upper sections of the home a lightweight appearance, while the extensive use of glass creates strong visual relationships between the interior and the surrounding landscape.

Large sliding openings were central to this approach. The minimal windows® systems provide generous areas of glazing while keeping visible framing to a minimum, allowing the glass and views beyond to remain prominent within the architectural composition.
The relationship between the internal and external spaces was also carefully considered. In the main kitchen-diner and living areas, sliding doors open directly onto the garden, with continuous flooring and flush thresholds helping to create a seamless transition between the interior and patio.

The result is a home where the glazing is integral to the architectural design, supporting the sense of openness and connection that defines the property.

The extensive glazing at Rook Hill needed to provide high levels of natural light while also responding to the property's coastal environment.

Located approximately 200m from the shoreline, the project required consideration of marine exposure. All external glazing was therefore specified with a RAL 7016 PPC marine-grade finish, providing a durable finish appropriate to the coastal setting.

Solar control was also an important consideration across the large glazed elevations. Double glazing with a 70/37 solar control coating was specified throughout the external glazing to help manage solar gain, particularly across the south-facing elevations.

The minimal windows® sliding doors use 21mm sightlines and were specified with flush thresholds, allowing the large glazed openings to retain a clean architectural appearance while supporting the connection between internal and external spaces.

The scale and geometry of the glazing presented several technical challenges during the design of Rook Hill.

The floating glazed gables introduced additional complexity, with the sliding door systems required to integrate with shaped structural glass above. The glazing joints, silicone seams and sliding door interlocks needed to align precisely to create consistent architectural lines across the elevations.

The project also required sliding doors to operate smoothly within the open-plan living spaces without disrupting circulation. The fully recessed pocket door was therefore installed using a Freeway base track, allowing the panel to disappear into the wall when open and maintaining a clear connection between adjoining spaces.

The completed Rook Hill residence demonstrates how minimal windows® sliding doors can be integrated into a highly detailed contemporary home while responding to both architectural and environmental requirements.

Multiple sliding configurations provide large glazed openings across the property, from the main living areas and garden connections to the upper-floor balcony spaces. The fully recessed pocket door provides an additional solution where a completely unobstructed opening was required.

The combination of slim aluminium framing, large areas of glass and bespoke structural glazing allows natural light to become a defining element of the interior. The floating glazed gables further reinforce the relationship between the solid stone architecture and the lightweight appearance of the glazing.

The completed home combines traditional architectural form with contemporary glazing, creating a modern family residence that remains closely connected to its coastal Dorset setting.

The Rook Hill project incorporated multiple minimal windows® sliding door configurations alongside structural glazing and other slim-framed glazing systems.

• Sightline: 21mm
• Frame: Thermally broken aluminium
• Finish: RAL 7016 PPC, marine-grade specification
• Glazing: Double glazing with 70/37 solar control coating
• Threshold: Standard flush threshold
• Locking: Type 2 thrust lever handle
• Largest sliding door: Three-track, three-panel sliding door measuring 5.8m wide × 2.3m high
• Sliding door: Two-track, two-panel sliding door measuring 3.1m wide × 2.3m high
• Sliding door: Three-track, three-panel sliding door measuring 5m wide × 2.3m high
• Pocket door: Single-track, single-panel sliding door measuring 2.4m wide × 2.3m high, with Freeway base track and fully recessed pocket
• Gable arrangement 1: Two-track, two-panel sliding door measuring 2.6m wide × 2.1m high, with frameless shaped overlight
• Gable arrangement 2: Two-track, two-panel sliding door measuring 3.9m wide × 2.2m high, with irregular shaped frameless overlight measuring 3.9m wide × 2.9m high

Architect: LMA Architects

Builder: Martin White

Location: Rook Hill Road, Christchurch, Dorset