Close to nature in more ways than one

The perfect combination – with its internal wooden rafters, the Aura glass canopy by Solarlux is the perfect companion to the detached country house by Germany’s North Sea coast. Aluminium on the outside provides stability and durability, despite the often treacherous weather conditions. 

The facade, the shape of the roof, the unusual architecture – there are many elements that can bring out the charm of a house. In order to ensure that everything fits with the overall ambience, the outdoor area and extensions also need to match the design aesthetic of the building. This is why Solarlux, a manufacturer of moving facade solutions and glazed extensions, offers such a wide range of glass canopies in all kinds of materials, shapes and sizes, all of which are made to order. One family in North Frisia made the most of the company’s expertise when it came to designing a glass canopy to suit their northern German country home. 

The detached house, which dates back to 1948, is located in the middle of the idyllic countryside close to the North Sea coast. So that they could enjoy their outdoor area not just in summer, but through the spring and autumn as well, the family decided to build a glass canopy that also had side glazing to protect them from the strong north wind. They wanted a canopy that would echo the country style of their main house – and Solarlux’s Aura glass canopy impressed them across the board. The system brings them closer to nature in two ways: the wood on the inside of the canopy makes it a unique, natural product, while the aluminium covers on the outside allow them to be closer to the natural world while still being protected from the weather. This enables it to blend in perfectly with its surroundings, while still remaining durable despite being exposed to the salty sea air. 
 

The slender, laminated spruce profiles and recessed pillars lend the monopitch roof a touch of class and a unique, natural ambience to the interior – but more than that, they provide the structure with great stability. The roof system is also impressive in terms of its outstanding internal structural reinforcement and incredible impermeability. A gutter is also suspended in front of each of the structures for controlled drainage. A thick, odourless varnish on the middle and final coats provides guaranteed protection from the elements, high permanent elasticity and good cleaning properties. 

Like almost every Solarlux glass canopy, the Aura can be combined with moving, vertical glass elements to create a glass house that provides all-round shelter from the wind and rain. That was incredibly important for this project due to the strong North Sea wind. The Solarlux SL 25 slide-and-turn system makes it easy for the owners to slide the glass elements to the side and turn them 90 degrees so they are pushed up against the wall of the house. This allows a fresh breeze to blow through under the glass canopy in the summer. The family’s view of their well-kept garden and pond remains unobscured thanks to the frameless design of the glass elements.