Garden Room, Fife, Scotland

The most recent change takes the form of a new garden room, which directly links lower levels of the cottage to an upper terrace and garden area. The design was developed with careful consideration of the site (within a Conservation Area) and to minimise impact on neighbours. A green oak frame adopts a simple ‘table’ structure, comprising four posts independent of the adjacent stone boundary walls, with extended oak beams tying into the existing stone gable wall to provide lateral stability. The external walls (effectively non-loadbearing) include window openings which appear to be seemingly random, but were carefully positioned on site to maximise light and views. The construction was carried out as a self-build project, with help from family and friends at crucial build stages. Wherever possible, construction materials were locally sourced, including Scottish Oak, Larch, and Douglas Fir timber. A range of the materials were reclaimed, including internal timber cladding, external paving, and the main sliding glazed doors (an online auction purchase). The self-build option allowed for ongoing experimentation during the works, with new skills (amongst many) gained on lime plastering techniques. Carbon emissions data have not been fully worked out for the extension. The extensive use of timber construction, including the substantial oak frame, will help to sequester carbon in the structure, and the use of reclaimed materials together with an inventive and economical use of materials (heavily incentivised on a self-build project) reduced construction waste. Electric under-floor heating and high levels of thermal insulation will minimise operational carbon emissions. Functionally (and thermally), the extension is designed (with an internal insulated sliding door) to work as part of the wider house or as an independent garden room.