When looking at the existing building we have come to love the simplicity and beauty of the original house with the traditional tall windows, the mouldings and cornices on the facade and the balcony with its ornate balustrade. We believe that the best way to approach the project is to celebrate the heritage and character of the original house and comprehensively refurbish the smaller wing with a modern look (where the current garage is). This way, by making the old sit side by side with the new, the memory of the place is not lost but given a new life.
The resulting composition is serene but at the same time full of character and provides the setting for the functional arrangement of the spaces.
We have chosen to place all the rooms, bathrooms, stairs and the entrance in the existing house as these spaces do not require very wide windows.
The social spaces are placed in the modern side wing with large glazed windows and views over the garden. In order to do this, the current garages and roof are demolished albeit still preserving the north and east brick walls. Together with a new insulated roof and windows a new ample double height space is created to house the living and dinning room with a direct open connection with the kitchen. On the rear side a pergola forms a new porch accessible from the kitchen and living room to allow for outdoor eating, this side of the garden is naturally shaded by the house in summer. For the more temperate seasons, the front patio would a nice place to sit and enjoy the warming sun and the views of the garden.
A new garage is proposed with access from the side road and with a direct access to the house. This configuration allows for up to 4 parking spaces (2 covered) with a minimum use of space, this way most of the open space is used for green areas which surround the house. The small existing basement can be preserved for storage and equipment (boilers, pumps, etc) and can be accessed by a secluded stair near the main entrance.
We have also relocated the main staircase for functional reasons, allowing a fluid circulation from the entrance to the side wing where the social spaces are.
We have put together a number of 3d images which comprehensively illustrate all the concepts and ideas described above.
All in all, we believe this is a very appealing design and would make a wonderful home for it occupiers !
