private house extension - south oxfordshire

(photos further to completion to follow soon)

a:nw was approached by the clients to review a replacement extension that had been commissioned to replace an existing conservatory.  it was quickly apparent that the scheme failed to provide the kind or space the clients were looking for, and crucially provide no opportunity to move the kitchen space out of the existing building so that it had a more direct relationship with the garden.  a:nw produced a feasibility study at first to illustrate simply the benefits of a more considered rearrangement, and guidance for how a scheme may go forward.

The selected arrangement was for a large regular space that maximised light into the extension and deep in to the original kitchen space.  A regular grid of columns on the facades and the canopy would frame the space and provide a light-weight element next to the more defensive entry back -wall that also was an expression of the kitchen storage wall.

The scheme is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and so had to be submitted for planning approval.  The masonry, glass and metal Modern extension to the original Arts and Crafts house soon received permission and the project started on site in January 2019.

The Wienerberger Marziale brick was chosen as the modern whiter colouring with brown patches worked well with the brown-red existing brickwork on the house without being too similar or too striking in contrast.  The whiter brick harmonised with the silver grey and dark grey proposed for all the fenestration and aluminium cladding proposed.  

The open-plan area created for the kitchen, dining, living space opened out with slimline aluminium glass doors to the canopy area orientated to the back garden and the south westerly sun.  The more solid brick wall elevation created a new entrance facade to the house from the driveway enabling an approach that was far from a back entrance, and then retaining the original front door, facing the lawns, in-situ as part of the original house composition.

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All photographs taken by and images produced by Nick.