Heritage-inspired self-build in St Albans by Metwin

Designing a home from scratch

Homeowners Andy & Dixie had lived in St Albans for more than 35 years and spent many years searching for the right property. What they eventually found was a plot containing a small, somewhat run-down bungalow – an opportunity not to buy a finished house, but to design their own.

While the family didn’t start this project knowing how the finished house should look, Crittall was considered as part of the architectural concept from an early stage rather than introduced later – a distinction that shows in the finished building.

The final design took inspiration from Roman architecture, a nod to the history beneath St Albans itself. Built around a courtyard, with thin, wide brickwork references historic Roman construction combined with contemporary material and generous areas of glass and modern open-plan spaces.

The homeowners were both familiar with Crittall, having seen steel windows across London and knowing the brand’s long association with Art Deco architecture. When architect Matthew Briffa, of Briffa Phillips Architects, recommended Crittall for the main living spaces, the family recognised immediately that the character of genuine steel frames perfectly suited the design.

Crittall in every space

Crittall features heavily throughout the property, both externally and internally. Large areas of glazing are a focal point within the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, full height glazed doors connect the main living area with the garden, a two-storey glazed Crittall screen stands opposite the main staircase, a fire-rated internal Crittall door sits between the open-plan living area and formal lounge and, finally, an internal door leads directly to the boot room.

Specified in a dark bronze finish, the external doors sit alongside timber windows and provide a deliberately contemporary contrast to the Roman-inspired brickwork.

The impact on the home

Crittall plays a defining role in the kitchen, dining and living area. Large sections of glazing open the interior towards the garden and draw natural light into the centre of the house, while the full-height doors create a direct connection between the family space and the outdoors.

Internally, the Crittall doors allow spaces to remain visually connected while still providing separation where it is needed, including the fire-rated door to the formal lounge. The two-storey glazed screen within the staircase provides a further focal point and carries the use of steel up through the height of the building.

“We looked at other glazing systems while we were managing the budget, but nothing came close on character or finish,” said Andy. “The Crittall was one thing we weren’t prepared to lose and it’s always one of the first thing people notice when they walk in.”

Why this project was a Crittall House of the Year 2026 finalist

The judges were impressed with the breadth of the specification and the confidence in which it was applied. They thought all of the details worked perfectly together as one coherent architectural idea. The choice of the dark bronze finish was a standout feature that complimented the warmth of the Roman-inspired brickwork and timber windows, rather than sitting in contrast to them.

Delivered by Metwin with careful attention to detail, this project demonstrates the versatility of steel windows, doors and screens across a whole house.