Coity House

This typical 2 bed Victorian terraced house has been internally reconfigured on the ground and lower ground floors with a two storey rear extension to create a light and spacious 4 bed family home.
Our client, a young creative family wanted something unique; an extension that they could sit in the garden and look back at, enjoying the visual aspects without being pretentious or compromising on the functionality of the spaces.
The kitchen was moved from the gloomy lower ground floor to the ground floor rear extension over looking the garden, which has been decked out in series of small terraces to cope with an uneven garden and level changes. Through the re-working of the ground floor, a procession of spaces (entrance, reception, play, kitchen, garden) flow from one to another allowing the family to engage in their own individual activities whilst being together. Excitement of the space is revealed by the full height glazing which draws in the natural light and surrounding greenery, making the space feel much larger than it actually is. Due to the splay of the garden the extension protrudes at an angle to the house playing with the sight lines. The experience is further enhanced by the small overhang that sits over the expanded light well, this steps down to a small terraced area which leads to the newly created master bedroom and en-suite.
The raw concrete of the retaining walls and steps at the foot of the extension provide a solid base, whilst the overhanging bands of shear glazing and slate rise vertically playing with the perception of height. The darkness and texture of the Welsh riven slate contrasts with the light airy feeling from inside, whilst drawing on references to the extensive use of slate in Victorian buildings.