Hertfordshire Annex Extension

The client wanted a living space independent from the main family unit while maintaining an internal connection. The design responds to the site’s topography and the repetitive character of suburban gardens. Positioned along the garden’s long edge, the extension is partially submerged into the sloping lawn to minimise its impact, while a roof overhang creates a visual link between the house and garden. A glazed vestibule marks the transition between house and annex, bringing in natural light and views. The narrow front elevation features a large glazed door aligned with an internal window, drawing the open fields into the living space. Rooms are arranged sequentially toward the rear, with roof lights and windows framing garden views. Architectural block work forms the façade’s base and part of the retaining wall, seamlessly extending onto the patio. Fibre cement panels, cut and arranged in a tapered pattern over a timber frame, are punctuated by powder-coated aluminium profiles, creating texture and order. The expression of the facade is abstract in scale and material, whilst in a quiet dialogue with the garden setting.