A project comprising a new rear extension to a Victorian semi-detached house in the Calthorpe Estate Conservation Area of Birmingham. A reconfiguration of the existing ground floor and new finishes throughout create a legible layout that connects to the garden and retains all existing trees.
The extension is conceived as a precisely detailed volume to contrast with the existing brick elevations. The charred black timber cladding sits on a dark brick plinth with black steel windows and full height doors opening onto the garden, and a frameless glass roof light shaping the generous natural light entering the new and refurbished spaces.
The project developed from stringent parameters due to the proximity of existing properties and the Conservation Area setting. Extensive consultation and option studies led to the evolution of a simple trapezoidal floor plan set away from the site boundary that afforded privacy, mitigated overlooking and overshadowing, and created much needed additional floor space, linking together a previously disconnected series of rooms into a cohesive whole.
The existing snug, music room and kitchen have been fully refurbished and provide a unified floor plan. The materials palette utilises oak parquet flooring, oak joinery and a new oak staircase with a reinstated fireplace and custom-built kitchen.
The existing exterior brick walls are retained as part of the new interior, with oak linings framing openings between existing and new. The new kitchen incorporates a central island and breakfast bar with all services linked to the existing kitchen hearth.
This new extension is a multi-function space that can be used for dining, entertaining, or quiet personal work. A generous ceiling height of 3 metres allows flexibility and a range of uses to be easily achieved, with sight lines from the existing rooms providing glimpse views through the new extension to the garden beyond.
Client – Private
Type – Conservation and Heritage | Interiors | Refurbishment | Residential
Location – Edgbaston (Calthorpe Estate Conservation Area), Birmingham, UK
Status – Built
CGI’s | Visuals – Visual8
Images | Drawings – Slab Design Union