Bluehouse Lane

This project is for the extensive reconfiguration and extension of an existing house in Oxted, Surrey, for a private client. Andrew Paine Architecture was approached by the client, Annabel Kerley, to commence work in December 2015 and the project was completed on site in September 2017.

The brief was to extend the building both to the side and to the rear and for internal reconfiguration, adding bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and gallery spaces. The character of the existing building, while built relatively cheaply in the 1950s, made strong reference to local vernacular techniques, with vertically-hung tiles above ground floor level and brickwork below. APA continued this into the design of the extensions, developing a scheme that did not require planning permission by complying with the Permitted Development criteria.

The brief included the need to improve both visual and physical connections between the building and the extensive grounds in which it is situated, and APA achieved this through the distinctive glazing to the vaulted bedroom at first floor level and through various techniques, including sliding glazing and a protruding window seat, at ground floor level.