Craiglockhart Extension

The owners were eager to explore the house’s potential and create a perfect space to entertain friends and family. The downstairs living areas were re-organised and a kitchen extension added. The old kitchen was transformed into a practical utility room and a back entrance, with direct access from the parking area for practical everyday use, allowing the front door and hallway to be kept tidy and used primarily for the arrival of guests. Small but impactful alterations to the house’s exterior have all helped to bring back the villa’s original charm. The existing house had been insulated in the past, so the renovation works focused on providing double-glazed timber sash windows which are built to last. In the new extension, the balance between the amount of glazing and thickness of insulation was well considered, ensuring that the new structure enhances the energy performance of the building. The slim nature of the glass link brings in an abundance of natural light, creating pleasant and bright living spaces while minimising the risk of overheating. The new timber-clad addition is connected to the house by a glass link, creating an elegant dialogue between old and new. The weathered finish and vertical pattern of the extension’s cladding provide a subtle contrast to the traditional white render of the villa. It provides improved connection with the back garden, which has also undergone a transformation, with plentiful native wildflowers that not only creates a beautiful foreground to the timber-clad extension but also helps to attract bees and other pollinators.