The Challenge
In 2022, Nigel bought a countryside property on the outskirts of a Hampshire village and began transforming it with his architect. A section of the original house was removed to create a modern orangery style kitchen diner with an open plan snug. The design centred around a 2.2m x 5m roof lantern, large bifold doors on two elevations and generous tilt and turn windows. The result was a beautiful glazed box filled with daylight and uninterrupted views across the fields.
Throughout the build the focus stayed firmly on light, space and clean architectural lines. Shading was acknowledged but never explored in detail. As summer arrived during the final stages of construction, the consequences became unavoidable.
The space overheated rapidly. Glare flooded the room. The dream space became unusable for large parts of the day.
Nigel needed a solution that restored comfort without compromising the space he had worked so hard to create.
The Vision
Nigel reflected on the early stages of his project.
“We always knew that we’d have requirements for blinds but I think we fell over at the start by not thinking that through fully at the build stage.”
The brief was clear. The solution needed to control the heat gain from the lantern and extensive glazing, maintain the modern aesthetic, keep the fabric flat and crisp across large spans, preserve the countryside views and operate reliably without adding clutter to the architecture.
Heat was the primary issue.
By this point it was too late to conceal any shading system within the structure. Nigel felt the weight of the missed opportunity, especially when he realised that his investment could have been fully integrated if the right conversations had taken place earlier.
This experience became one of the catalysts for the creation of S.H.A.D.E. A framework designed to help architects and homeowners consider shading at the same time as glazing so that performance and aesthetics are protected from day one. The S.H.A.D.E. Principle: A Complete Guide to Designing with Glass – WindowTreat
Our Solution
Nigel needed a system that could take control of the heat without disturbing the clean, modern look he and his architect had created.
For the roof lantern, Athena’s tensioned systems kept the fabric tight and flat across the full span. A crisp architectural surface that looked like part of the original design. By using a twin system the cassette boxes were smaller than a single roof blind, as each box carries less fabric. This helped to keep the roof lantern as minimalistic as possible as well as track the orbiting sun.
The same performance was needed for the bi-folds and tilt and turns. They were fitted with dimensionally stable fabrics with high solar reflectance and great views out which kept the countryside outlook alive while cutting the heat dramatically. These fabrics pushed solar energy back out through the glass, which transformed the comfort of the room without sacrificing too much daylight.
Everything worked together. Everything looked intentional. The blinds glided smoothly, sat neatly in their cassettes and finally gave the room the control it had been missing from day one.
The Result
The transformation was immediate. The once overheated room became a comfortable, usable living space throughout the year.
Nigel shared: “We can use it all year round. It keeps the room warm in winter but in the summer does a fantastic job of reflecting the heat out and allowing you to stay in the room space whatever the weather is.”
The temperature stabilised. The glare disappeared. The views remained intact. The architecture stayed clean and uncluttered.
Nigel saved the space he and his architect had envisioned, although the experience left a lasting reminder of the value of early planning. It is exactly why S.H.A.D.E exists today. To help homeowners and architects avoid this regret and ensure that shading solutions are designed and budgeted for alongside the glazing systems they are supporting.
