Altrincham house extension
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Artform Architects Download Original
A new single storey rear extension to a semi-detached house, creating an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space which better connected to the garden and office.
The extension and garden office have been designed to compliment one another and work holistically rather than as separate structures. The form, scale and aesthetic are similar so the two elements have a connection between one another and with the garden. It is very much a contemporary extension and purposefully is in contrast to the early 20th Century brick house. Using white render, vertical timber cladding and large sections of glazing, the modern look provides a crisp and clean response to the domestic setting but one which positively responds to the context and benefits the house as a whole.
The project has provided the client with additional multi-functional space in a well designed and attractive modern extension. Internally the new layout has changed the way the family use their home and has created a much needed family space at the rear which overlooks the garden and benefits from high levels of natural light. This means they spend more time together and can also use the space to host various events. Externally the design provides a distinctive modern addition to a typical semi-detached house which benefits the garden and improves the connection between inside and out.
One of the key factors in the design was to maximise natural light on an east-facing site. Large sliding doors and a large rooflight over the extension mean that there is less reliance on artificial lighting which saves energy during the building's lifetime. Similarly the high spec of insulation and glazing provides the necessary u-values to minimise heat loss. The roof and floor of the extension utilises timber structures as a sustainable building material and the timber cladding does the same. These renewables create a sustainable and high performing design which helps upgrade the house as a whole.
Whilst the brief may have been fairly typical of many clients wanting to extend their home, the design is far from standard and has provided the family with a unique and highly distance piece of modern architecture which they can be proud of. It works exactly as planned from both a spatial point of view and a building performance perspective and is an example of how contemporary design can work in traditional domestic settings and exceed the client's original expectations.
Data
- Begun: Feb 2017
- Completed: Jun 2017
- Floor area: 35m2
- Sector: Residential
- Total cost: £88,295
- Funding: Private
- Tender date: Oct 2016
- Procurement: JCT Homeowner Contract
- Address: Bollin Drive, Timperley, Altrincham, WA14 5QR, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: Artform Architects
- Client: Private
- Structural engineer: Scott Hughes