The existing house occupied a constrained plot with limited width and significant level changes across the site. Access to the main entrance was via multiple external steps, creating both safety concerns and poor accessibility. Internally, the layout did not fully respond to the topography or capitalise on the surrounding views, including outlooks towards the Penn Estate. Natural light was limited in several areas, particularly in spaces not directly connected to the garden, and the overall arrangement lacked cohesion and flexibility for modern family living.
The brief was to refurbish and extend the property to create a contemporary, light-filled family home. Planning permission was successfully secured for the proposed works. Key objectives included relocating the main entrance to the lower ground level to create a safe, level threshold and improve accessibility. The design needed to overcome the constraints of the narrow site and varying levels, while introducing an open-plan layout tailored to family life. Maximising views towards the Penn Estate, increasing natural daylight throughout the home, and strengthening the relationship between internal spaces and the garden were also key goals.
Carefully responding to the site’s physical constraints, the design reorganised the house across three levels to work harmoniously with the changing ground levels. The main entrance was relocated to the lower ground floor, eliminating the unsafe external steps and significantly improving accessibility. A generous open-plan layout was introduced, creating flexible and connected living spaces suited to everyday family life and entertaining. Large, glazed openings were strategically positioned to frame views towards the Penn Estate and draw natural light deep into the interior. Rooflights were incorporated to illuminate areas without direct garden access, ensuring a bright and uplifting atmosphere throughout. Bifold and patio doors within the living room and kitchen establish a seamless connection to the garden, enhancing indoor–outdoor living. Externally, the contemporary façade was composed using a refined palette of render, facing brickwork, handmade clay roof tiles, and aluminium double-glazed windows. A striking internal bridge at the top floor allows views down to the ground floor, reinforcing a sense of openness and visual connection across all levels.
The project successfully transformed a challenging and constrained site into a light-filled, accessible, and contemporary family home. The new design maximises natural light, celebrates the surrounding landscape, and delivers a flexible spatial arrangement perfectly suited to modern family living. Through thoughtful architectural intervention and careful response to context, the house now feels open, connected, and enduringly functional.
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