This week marks a big milestone for the UK demo case at the Lister Housing Co-operative that is being delivered as part of the FuturHist project. After several months of development and production, the secondary window prototype has arrived from Germany to the flat in Edinburgh.
Working together with historic window specialists Holzmanufaktur Rottweil GmbH, project partners Edinburgh World Heritage, Eurac Research, and the University of Strathclyde designed a tailored, ultra-thin secondary glazing system that slides right between the existing window and its shutters. This high-performance upgrade delivers maximum thermal insulation for traditional sash and case windows, all while keeping the original historic glass intact and the shutters completely functional.
Photo: Edinburgh World Heritage
The prototype features advanced vacuum glazing—a ultra-thin double-pane unit with a vacuum gap that offers the thermal performance of triple glazing in a fraction of the profile. Slim enough to fit between the original window and shutters, it drastically reduces street noise while remaining fully operable for easy ventilation and maintenance. Overcoming complex technical challenges, this slender design delivers peak efficiency while remaining virtually invisible inside and out, fully preserving the building’s historic character.
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