Victoria Place

The main house fully refurbished on all levels and a contemporary single storey rear kitchen / dining extension added. The previous 2-storey extension had obliterated the original arched window to the staircase. The full internal refurbishment on all levels made spatial improvements including new bathroom and shower rooms, a utility room, and a home office. The services installations, windows, decorations and joinery were all refurbished. The original arched window to the stair was also reinstated.

The ambition for the rear extension was to create a solid, robust form, clearly distinct from the original dwelling, containing a bright, voluminous family space with a strong connection to the garden. The new extension was constructed using energy efficient SIPS and features dove-grey zinc-cladding, reminiscent of the colour palette of lead and slate on the original house, with a Siberian Larch clad rear elevation, washed in a light grey stain and tapered like a lens to draw the sunlight inwards and the eye outward to the garden beyond.

The roof is finished with sedum, appearing as additional garden when viewed from the new arched window and the rooms above. The new extension is separated from the existing building by a wrap-around glazed circulation slot clearly delineating between ‘old’ and ‘new’, visually separating the two solid forms. This link permits the form of the original house to remain visually clear and distinct from the new works, whilst also retaining the exposed stone surrounds to the arched window and ground floor room.

The corner window captures the setting sun and incorporates a seat for garden gazing; a large glazed sliding door, the proportions of which are based on the width of the aforementioned stone surrounds, and a dramatic skylight bathe the internal spaces in light and warmth. This bold extension deliberately avoids using a traditional architectural vocabulary and demonstrates our passion for encouraging contemporary architecture in the historical context.

Photography by David Barbour Photography