Located in Penn, Buckinghamshire, the property was a traditional 1930s-style house with a conventional cellular layout and a flat-roofed garage. While generous in footprint, the internal arrangement limited natural light and restricted spatial flow between rooms. The house lacked strong visual connections between levels, and key areas felt compartmentalised and underutilised. Although structurally sound, it required significant reconfiguration to meet the expectations of contemporary family living.
The brief was to transform the traditional house into a contemporary family home that balanced modern architectural expression with practical, functional living. Key objectives included reimagining the internal layout to improve flow and openness, maximising natural daylight throughout the house, and creating dynamic connections between floors. The garage was to be converted into habitable space, and en-suite bathrooms were to be provided to all bedrooms. Additionally, a dedicated study and office space were needed, along with a contemporary aesthetic that still respected the home’s original character.
The layout was comprehensively redesigned to create a seamless ground-floor arrangement connecting the kitchen/diner, family room, playroom, and gym. The former flat-roofed garage was fully converted into habitable accommodation, demonstrating how overlooked spaces can become valuable living zones. A dramatic double-height space was introduced as a defining architectural feature, with strategically positioned ridge lights flooding the interior with daylight. This intervention enhances openness and establishes a strong visual relationship between levels. Externally, the façade was refreshed using a refined combination of timber boarding and render, creating a contemporary identity that remains sympathetic to the original 1930s form. On the first floor, four bedrooms were carefully planned, each with its own en-suite bathroom, complemented by a central family bathroom to support daily life and long-term flexibility. The second floor accommodates a study and office space, accessed via a staircase and an internal bridge set beneath the ridge lights. This bridge visually connects to the double-height space below while framing panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, creating a distinctive and inspiring workspace.
The completed project successfully modernises the house, achieving a careful balance between contemporary aesthetics and functional family living. Abundant natural light improved spatial flow, and interconnected volumes have transformed the once traditional layout into an open, inviting, and adaptable home. The result is a light-filled contemporary residence that fully meets the client’s brief, creating a dynamic yet comfortable environment designed to support modern family life for years to come.
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