June 11, 2024

Room with a View: Glass Mezzanines

Not quite a second storey per se, mezzanines have been a popular and efficient tool for maximising vertical space for ages. A glass mezzanine levels everything up.

Not quite a second storey per se, mezzanines have been a popular and efficient tool for maximising vertical space for ages. These designs level-up the loft-like level with glass – adding some privacy while letting the light flow right on in.

Writing:

Kate Kolberg

Photography:

Mezzanine

Loft

Small Home

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In her **family’s garage-turned-studio home**, interior designer Cushla McFadden maximised the tall 6m ceilings by placing the bedroom within an enclosed glass mezzanine.

McFadden, who lived here with her husband and two young children while they were young, wanted to maximise privacy and light in the bedroom and was particularly mindful of how sounds from downstairs might affect someone sleeping above.

“I think designing small spaces is really interesting, and personally I love the challenge. With larger spaces, there are many more options but with smaller spaces, there are probably only one or two options that will really work that maximise privacy and light”.

—Cushla McFadden, Tom Mark Henry

The large 2m-wide window looks out onto the ocean view via the set of windows on the exterior wall, directly above the sliding glass doors that lead out to the deck. *Images* *Damian Bennett.*

Jeff Weng of 2 Books Design actually *reduced* the footprint of this 70sqm/753sqft **minimalist Taipei City home** to let more light into the space. By cutting down on the footprint of the existing mezzanine, Weng was able to open the vertical volume of the lower level and make it feel a little less crowded.

“You can sit on the edge of the bed and enjoy the night sky before going to sleep”.

—Jeff Weng, 2 Books Design

In the bedroom, a solid-glass wall allows for little visual interruption between the two storeys. A good dose of natural light is able to flow into the bedroom, where you can even enjoy a view of the night sky from the bed at night.

The remaining mezzanine was put to good use, though – housing the bedroom, a bathroom, and a small landing for storage, a guest sleeping mat, and a place for their cats to play.

*Images* *Studio Millspace* */ Lucas K. Doolan.*

Upon discovering this **industrial two story building** in Paris, Anthony Authié, of Zyva Studio, and his wife Adele were particularly taken by its high ceilings and ample volume.

The stairway tucked behind the kitchen leads to the bedroom, which is enveloped by two glass walls.

The space is maximalist through and through, taking inspiration from their favourite childhood games and toys.

For privacy (and flair), Authié added vibrant curtains that make the space look like a large yellow box from the exterior or a fun and flamey retreat from the interior.

“The outer layer of the curtain is a block out curtain in yellow, so from the lower floor the bedroom looks like a large yellow box”.

—Anthony Authié, Zyva Studio

Olivier Menard and his partner were living in an apartment that was fine for two, but would not be suitable for their planned family. When the apartment above them became available, they managed to purchase it and join the units to create their **ideal family home**.

A desk was placed looking out through the window, allowing the bedroom to double as a quiet and private office for Menard or his wife when they need to work from home.

A skylight just beyond the mezzanine window helps to light the kitchen and the bedroom.

“When you design small spaces, the criteria of success feel more real, because you have no option but to make things work: beauty and comfort must come out of practical, technical, physical, and economical constraints. Vertical extensions to existing buildings are a way to accommodate more people in a given city”.

—Olivier Menard, Archibien

With the height that the duplex unit allowed, Menard placed a mezzanine level with the main bedroom overlooking the kitchen via a large double-glazed window. *Images* *Archibien.*

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Mezzanines in Small Spaces

Mezzanines are nothing new, with examples of them popping up as far back as ancient Roman architecture. Not quite a second storey per se, the loft-like level saw a boom during the Industrial Revolution as an efficient way of maximising vertical space. And it is for very similar reasons that they are a popular design tool in small spaces as well – providing some supplementary footprint for a separated room without cramping the feel of the main level.

Beyond the additional footprint, one of the primary advantages of a glass mezzanine is how they allow for some extra privacy. By placing a room – often the bedroom – in a mezzanine, the lower level becomes the space for communal activities and entertaining, while the mezzanine level can be reserved as a private and more intimate zone. There is no strict rule as to whether a mezzanine needs to be open or closed, so to level up mezzanine privacy, many architects and interior designers are enclosing them with glass.

Separate but Together

Glass mezzanines have the additional benefits of creating a seamless visual connection between the different levels of a home and, most popularly, do not restrict the flow of natural light. By using transparent materials like tempered glass, designers can maintain an uninterrupted sightline and let light permeate throughout the space. It’s worth mentioning that this goes both ways! Windows within a mezzanine room will be able to transmit their light to the lower level just as much as they receive light from the lower level. This not only enhances the overall brightness of the interior but also creates a sense of expansiveness, making the area feel more airy and spacious.

Some of you might be wondering how having a big window into your bedroom counts as privacy. Fair. The reality is it’s not going to be fully private, but you would need a particular vantage to see all the way into the room – a vantage that many small spaces do not offer due to their small footprints. As well, there is something to be said for the sound privacy that the glass allows, ensuring that additional degree of separation between what’s happening upstairs and downstairs. For example, a person still asleep can be spared from their early riser significant other making coffee at 6am. If the height allows it, glass-enclosed mezzanines are one of the best solutions out there for gaining some extra private space in a small home – and doing it in style.

Writing:

Kate Kolberg

Photography:

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