Brief:
This project, currently under construction was to design a family ecohouse in a prominent location within the village conservation area and to incorporate an existing small cottage considered to be an essential part of the village streetscape. The planning department insisted that any visible extension amounted to no more than 40% of the original building.
Solution:
To retain the most significant part of the existing dwelling and to demolish the more recent additions. Following this, the remaining shell was to be clad with insulation and render to make use of the existing thermal mass.
A crisp, modern two storey, extension was added to the rear of the building, using natural materials. This allowed the relocation of the staircase, providing a more efficient use of the existing spaces and giving access to new, rooms buried into the hillside behind.