We were the Architects for the original house. The new owners are looking to live in the house as a lifetime home that they can adapt and enjoy. Therefore, we were briefed with an aim that the house was future proofed for greater home care and a possible live in nurse/carer along with more space for a library and study space. The proposed spaces have evolved to provide a flexible and adaptable series of spaces in the form of a new rear annex and enlarged car port area.
The proposed rear annex has been developed to be subservient to the main house and also complimentary in its form, massing and materiality. Following initial analysis, the new annex has been located to the rear of the existing house on the Northern side of the plot. The chosen scheme maximizes natural light, and provides a contextual and well balanced form and design. The location of the new annex is for several reasons. Firstly, the house will require a lift for potential wheel chair access and the most efficient location for this is adjacent to the rear first floor corridor and the stair landing, this location will not interfere with the existing house layout.
A new glass structure will provide a level link between the ground floor lounge and first floor master suite into the new annex, along with the new lift. The lift location also allows access to both floors of the new annex. The second reason for the location is that the existing house can provide a visual screening of the new annex. The annex then becomes visible from the inside of the house or the more secluded and private rear garden only. Furthermore, the northern part of the site is screened heavily with the mature Oak trees and the thick hedging along the road side. All of which will conceal the new annex from any views into the site and any impact upon the visual amenity. The views being focused internally to the site.
The driving Architectural concept and idea for the proposal is one of a garden room or pavilion that has a light link or tether back to the main house. The link not only allows for a practical and level access from the main house but it also provides space and a sense of detachment from the main house over a more conventional extension built straight on to the house. This not only breaks up the mass and form of the proposal but also creates an interesting series of in between spaces that we are proposing become Japanese gardens, and out door terraces for sculptures.
