Woodwarde Road

The enforced setback at the side became an opportunity, with a clever serrated edge roof form allowing light in while retaining privacy. This is connected at the rear around a cantilevered corner to a double pitched rear roof. Roofs were designed to be gutterless for crisp detailing, with large overhangs and ground-level drainage. The roof form is expressed internally with warm Douglas fir joists and linings forming a cavernous space over the new garden sitting room. The heavy roof overhang, taking cues from Frank Lloyd Wright, concentrates physical and visual connections to the garden. Architecture and landscape have been considered holistically. The sloped site is organised by sequentially stepped ‘rooms’; a service zone (with colourful Utility, WC and desk nook), the kitchen and dining area, a new garden living room and patio, an outdoor kitchen area, garden sitting space, and finally the recently completed (by others) garden room. The cool tones of robust concrete and porcelain tile are paired with warm natural Douglas fir timber and rich red pigmented zinc. The Utility and desk nook are defined with bold colour. Environmentally the building elements were over-insulated to adopt a ‘fabric first’ approach. Required U-values were surpassed; (floors 0.16 vs 0.22 required, walls 0.18 vs 0.28 required, pitched roofs: 0.17 vs 0.18 required). New efficient services and UFH were installed. Practical robust materials were used to ensure longevity; hard-wearing polished plaster, with concrete and porcelain tile floor finishes. The zinc roof is extremely long-lasting and is ultimately recyclable. Natural timber finishes were promoted internally for their sequestered carbon.