Once we heard how this Nineteen Thirties six-bedroom home in Surrey had been fully remodeled with a brand new wide-width floor ground ecological extension, we could not wait to share the story with you.
In any case, right here on Best housewe attempt to champion inexperienced design wherever doable, from eco-friendly flooring to sustainable gardening.
The present property, housing a pair and their three teenage youngsters, was fairly dated for contemporary dwelling requirements and – a incontrovertible fact that anybody with teenage youngsters can attest to – actually didn’t meet the wants of the household. As well as, it was thermally inefficient and its cramped design didn’t permit a lot pure gentle into the bottom ground dwelling areas.
The couple enlisted the assistance of Matthew Withers, director of Stylus Architects, to redecorate their house and create an altogether extra spacious association. Right here Matthew talks us by way of the transformation.
Matthew Withers BA (hons), Dip Arch, ARB, RIBA
Matthew and his observe associate Spencer Rose run Stylus Architects, a observe in Barnes, South West London, with additional places of work in St Albans and North London.
Stylus, a completely chartered architectural agency from RIBA, affords a complete vary of providers for residential, retail and business initiatives, in addition to inside design, grasp planning and consultancy providers.
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
‘When designing this constructing,’ explains Matthew, ‘it was essential that we had sympathy for the present constructing.’
‘Positioned within the coronary heart of Guildford overlooking the Surrey Hills and set in a big plot of land, the householders wished to increase and transform the entire property in a means that maximized the views and made the many of the giant backyard.’
“We made the bottom ground the visually dominant area,” continues Matthew. ‘Many of the open dwelling area is modeled as a collection of strong our bodies and voids, in order that the boundaries between inside and outdoors disappear.’
‘The room additionally advantages from a ceiling peak of greater than 5 meters on the peak of the ridge of the vaulted ceiling.’
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
Externally, to create clear structural traces, the constructing has been rigorously thought of with an offset ridge beam permitting the skylight to attach neatly to the apex of the roof.
Power-generating photovoltaic (PV) panels are mounted flush with the tile line and centered beneath the dormer home windows, for a really discreet and symmetrical visible look.
The PV photo voltaic panels had been all the time a part of the design from the beginning, so as a substitute of retrofitting them, Matthew and his crew had been capable of place them within the superb spot, inserting them sensitively when it comes to the ultimate design. On one aspect of the home they’re symmetrically positioned beneath the 2 new dormer home windows.
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
The design of the extension has made sustainability a key focus, utilizing renewable expertise and restoration as a key a part of the design strategy.
For instance, the extension’s outer body creates solar safety for the south-facing facade and minimizes the quantity of supplies required. This body is designed to visually float over the polished concrete ground.
The kitchen
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
“The primary room is 10 meters lengthy and 10 meters broad,” says Matthew. ‘Whereas giant areas can look dramatic, it is important that the person areas inside them have a livable, homely scale.’
‘We achieved this by enclosing the kitchen with the bookend brick partitions,’ inserting the eating space across the nook glazing and curving the sitting space round a bespoke joinery TV and storage unit.
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
The open plan design maximizes peak and quantity, making a vaulted ceiling in the principle kitchen and eating room that’s over 5 meters excessive at its highest level.
Trendy lights emphasize this with every bit wired instantly into the ceiling at various heights for a dramatic (and sensible) design. The big island has a spacious breakfast bar and the modern Shaker kitchen concepts are filled with storage. Alternatively, a conventional Aga has additionally been built-in into the setup.
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
As a result of there was a considerable amount of glazing, the architects had been cautious in designing shading and photo voltaic management glass to cut back the influence of photo voltaic acquire.
It was additionally essential to enhance the insulation specification and thickness in all constructing parts to cut back warmth loss, and in flip cut back the quantity of power required to warmth and funky the constructing.
‘All the time consider carefully concerning the place of skylights,’ advises Matthew. “We positioned a big unit on the northeast elevation in order that the room will get numerous pure gentle, however little direct daylight that may trigger overheating.”
The eating space
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
The open area options large-format concrete tiles laid on high of underfloor heating, designed to assist keep a snug indoor temperature.
The wraparound glazing and sliding doorways encourage passive photo voltaic acquire and supply entry and views on to the backyard.
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
The big eating desk is positioned perpendicular to the kitchen island to create a related, but clearly separated area. This association affords a view to the surface, no matter your place on the eating desk.
It additionally permits folks in several elements of the room, be it the kitchen, eating or dwelling areas, to simply keep it up a dialog. In addition they used recycled aggregates within the concrete, in addition to reclaimed bricks in among the partitions.
The dwelling space
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
The casual sitting space additionally advantages from a view of the backyard and is properly related to the opposite zones within the open area on the bottom ground.
It naturally will get rather less pure gentle, which makes it really feel cozier. Since that is the designated TV space, this deliberate cozy feeling additionally offers the area its personal id throughout the room.
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
The reworked floor ground plan additionally supplied the household with a separate dwelling space. “If the entire household would not need to share the identical area in the principle extension, there is a separate dwelling space on the bottom ground to retreat to,” explains Matthew.
This further lounge is supplied with two broad opening pivot doorways, giving the household direct entry to the backyard. The big pivot doorways are a recent addition that enhances each the present residential fashion and the adjoining newer extension.
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
This aspect of the constructing has not been expanded, however has been reworked in order that the 2 new openings over the complete peak additionally present entry to the backyard. Externally it has the identical brick inventory as expressed within the open area.
The bottom-level threshold is a sensible new addition that future-proofs the home for residents who might have ground-level entry sooner or later.
The constructing earlier than work began
(Picture credit score: Chris Snook)
The unique property was very conventional and whereas definitely not missing in area, the bottom ground configuration was cramped and darkish.
Deal with: Photovoltaic photo voltaic panels
Stylus Architects’ Matthew Withers offers us his finest ideas and concepts
- What’s the distinction? Commonplace photo voltaic panels seize the solar’s power and convert the radiation into warmth, whereas photovoltaic photo voltaic panels (or solar energy panels) convert the thermal power into electrical energy.
- Plan rigorously – Take into consideration your total sustainable technique from the preliminary idea of the design part. This fashion your design not solely works in essentially the most environment friendly means, however sustainable parts are additionally thought of from an aesthetic viewpoint.
- Assess your wants – Perceive what number of kilowatts of power you could run the system successfully early within the design course of.
- Immediate power – Photo voltaic panels generate electrical energy that have to be used instantly. Nevertheless, energy generated through the day will be saved in a battery for night use when the system just isn’t producing free power.
- Storage choices – If battery storage proves too costly, you possibly can add a system (similar to a whirlpool) that redirects the facility to the place it’s wanted when it’s produced, similar to charging automobiles or heating water.
- Preserve it sustainable – Use air con powered solely by photovoltaic cells for a sustainable house. This works particularly within the warmth of summer time when the photovoltaic cells produce most power.
