south facing extension

[coalfire]

Hello!
I'm building a south facing kitchen extension. The extension is slightly sunken and will get direct sunlight eight months of the year (winter the sun is hidden behind a large building).
I want to have all glass, but the architect says that this will be too hot. I suggested instead a large pane of glass about a third of the width of the room running down the centre of the extension roof.
Do you think this is too much? The architect really doesn't like glass there as he thinks it will not look balanced from the outside. I'm more interested in knowing whether this will be too hot.
The doors will be sliding doors so can open to half the width of the entire kitchen.
Anyone got similar south facing kitchen experience?
Thankss

[didireallysaythat]

Do your plans include a sunshade overhang above your windows to give you shade in the summer but allow lower winter sun in ? We're hoping that will help for us - south east facing and our current windows let in lots of sun which is a little too bright in the summer to be honest.

[otherstories]

I'm not sure I understand your plan - 1/3rd of roof glazed and all of front? If so I can see the architects unbalanced view. Can you go for a more centred roof light with angled/ solar reflective glass? This was something briefly mentioned by our original architect during designs. We are south facing and at design stage with the second round of architects so haven't faced the solar issue officially yet. Ours will be less grand than your glass box, we're currently working out if we like a built in structural overhang with lights or a brise soleil to shade the 3 panel sliding doors. The kitchen is currently a greenhouse in the winter sun so can definitely see the need for something.

[dulcefarniente]

Neighbours of mine have a similar set up to your proposals and it is baking hot in there in sunny weather. So much so that they had to abandon having pillar candles on display as they kept melting without being lit!