Brief: A new contemporary rear extension to an interwar semi-detached house for a growing young family of four including parents retreat with ensuite, second bathroom, attic room, study, open plan living space.
Challenges: Working with a south facing semi on a tight site with many overlooking properties at the rear. Finding a roof form that minimises overshadowing of the client’s own backyard as well as neighbours. Drawing in natural light with no northern exposure, strict height and heritage controls due to the Conservation Area zoning of the site.
Solutions: Two tower like volumes rise from ground level capped with two kite roofs that angle up towards the north, to scoop in northern light and deliver it deep within the house. These forms dip to the south minimising overshadowing and overlooking of the rear garden and neighbours while creating dramatic ceiling planes and lightplay internally. Large sliding doors connect a new open plan living, dining, kitchen with the garden. A dormer window to the attic roof is clad in corrugated metal, discretely nestling within original roof forms and contributing positively to the streetscape.
Highlights: Challenge of working with a heritage building, respecting and revealing layers of history while transforming the home into an inviting and joyful place for contemporary family life to unfold. The family can be all together at the beginning and end of the day, and at night the clients can retreat to a sanctuary upstairs.
