he brief for this commercial glass project was to enhance The Newt’s expanding visitor experience by creating a museum site to compliment the surrounding environment whilst standing out and attracting interest.

The building is set in a rural environment, encompassed by greenery and nature. The museum moved to its current location when a winding treetop walkway was installed. When approaching the building, the glazed façade acts as an invisibility cloak, hiding the concrete structure behind it.

Utilising oversized glazing in a rural area ensures that the result is a crisp, clean aesthetic that does not detract from the natural surroundings. Glass is a popular choice in construction materials when forging a connection between the indoor and outdoor environments. The use of structural glazing guarantees this museum uninterrupted views and a massive amount of natural light, resulting in a bright open space that is truly reflective of the area it represents.

When approached it becomes clear the glass façade stretches way beyond the initial eyeline, reaching an incredible 5 metres tall right across the building. The location of this structural glazing and in turn the building itself sits underneath a hill. Due to the nature of structural glazing IQ can ensure the high strength glass is as effective as any other material. 

Invisible until approached, some of the floor to ceiling glass panels are sliding door systems. These oversized glass doors seamlessly blend in with the structural glazing due to the slim sightlines and frameless appearance.

The fully automated systems used work on a sensor basis, ensuring smooth, contact-free access when approached from either side.

As the museum is set on a hilltop, the glazing and building structure must adapt to the natural landscape. As the building flows to the right, the external floor level rises and the structural glazing follows suit, creating a ledge between the glass and the internal floor.

Using this method to create a window seat, IQ has provided uninterrupted views from inside. Due to our glazing being designed and installed on a completely bespoke basis IQ are able to adapt designs to reflect each project’s individual requirements.