Cero II sliding doors bring accessibility and natural light to Houston Barns bungalow

At Houston Barns in Uphall, West Lothian, a dated and dark bungalow was transformed into a light-filled, highly accessible modern home with panoramic views. A key requirement for the project was to provide step-free access and easy door operation for the homeowner, who uses a wheelchair, while maximising natural light and providing uninterrupted views of the local scenery.

Working alongside design specialist EKCO, Solarlux supplied the Solarlux cero II sliding door system to meet the requirements for accessibility, aesthetics and thermal performance. EKCO technical director, Craig Robinson, specified a flush threshold to provide smooth wheelchair access without compromising thermal efficiency, weather tightness or security. His design also made use of cero II’s minimal sightlines and large expanses of glazing to replace the existing glazed wall, making the space feel more open and connected to the outdoors.

Accessibility was a critical consideration for this renovation project. The existing sliding doors were difficult to operate from a seated position, while the raised threshold made it difficult to transition between the home’s interior and the garden. The homeowner required a sliding door system that she could open independently from her wheelchair, and which included a flush threshold to provide step-free access.

The cero II sliding door system was selected because it offered the right balance of smooth operation, precision German engineering and slim sightlines. In the showroom, the homeowner liked the way the opening mechanism glided, noting that it felt solid yet easy to move.

It also allowed for a sunken threshold design. Craig explains that this was one of the most important elements of the specification. “We designed the sliding door system using Solarlux’s online portal. Then I worked with the builder to come up with a fully bespoke threshold that allowed flush access and suited the unusual details of the existing property.” Once Craig finalised his design, Solarlux confirmed that the configuration would be possible.

Justin Spires, technical lead at Solarlux, says that cero II sliding glass doors feature easy-glide stainless steel carriages, which make them easy for users to operate. “The system is also extremely versatile, allowing it to be configured to suit existing irregularities of an existing home, or to provide flush-fitting details for accessible living,” he adds.

Another key objective of the refurbishment was to improve the views to the outdoors and across the neighbouring golf course, while maintaining the original configuration.

“The existing wall had a large opening, with a central opening door, which they wanted to replicate,” Craig explains. “That wasn’t possible with many other systems. But with cero II sliding doors, we could create that exact configuration and have thin sightlines. Other products would have required much wider framing or a different configuration, which would have reduced the glazed area,” he adds.

Because cero II allows for large glazing panels – up to 12m2, the final design used fewer panels – and therefore less framing across the opening. For this project, the cero II sliding doors spanned over 7.4m in width and were configured with a central sliding panel and fixed side panels. This increased the amount of glass, creating a brighter interior environment and dramatically improving the connection between the home and its surroundings.

“cero II has a 34mm narrow aluminium profile, which creates a minimalist design and provides for maximum transparency,” explains Justin. “Combined with large, toughened glass panels, the result is up to 98% transparency, which contributes to a sense of light and openness.”

Replacing the outdated glazing with a modern double-glazed cero II system also significantly improved the bungalow's thermal performance.

The homeowner has reported a noticeable improvement in thermal comfort, with far less reliance on heating and the fireplace during the evenings. The upgrades also helped to bring the home in line with Scottish building standards.

For refurbishment work in existing domestic properties, Section 6: Energy of the Scottish Building Standards Technical Handbook sets performance expectations for the building envelope, including replacement doors and glazed elements.

Justin explains: “For refurbishment projects, thermal performance is an important consideration – especially since many older homes are not very efficient. cero II sliding doors can provide Uw values as low as 1.35 W/m²K, as well as Class 4 air permeability. This helps reduce heat loss and unwanted draughts. It also supports compliance with Scottish Building Standards.”

The renovation of this Scottish bungalow demonstrates how high-performance sliding door systems can make homes more inclusive while enhancing aesthetics and thermal performance.

By specifying a Solarlux cero II sliding door system, the team at EKCO were able to provide simplified wheelchair access, improved warmth and comfort, beautiful outdoor views and a high-quality finished appearance.

For more information, browse our product range online and download technical documentation. You can also speak to our team to discuss your project requirements and learn more about our glazing systems.

Photographer: 828 Media

Partner: EKCO

Products: Cero II