Glass Extension to a Locally Listed Building

The client approached Cox Architects following an unsuccessful attempt to obtain planning permission from a previous architect. The client’s brief was to replace and extend an existing, poorly designed extension in an unsuccessful attempt to reflect the existing house. The original property was built as one of three houses around an orchard by and for the architect William Weymouth. The house’s original part retains many external and internal features, including detailed brickwork fireplaces, timber gables, and brick piers. The client did not wish to alter the original asset or remove any key features but wanted a contemporary extension that would minimally impact the property.

The design features a fully glazed facade with a roof light that extends over the top of the glazing, creating a seamless finish to the glass when viewed internally and flooding the space with light. Window openings were carefully positioned to align with pathways in the landscape and walkways to the existing veranda, with the floor finish highlighting the transition from new to old. Internally, views from the kitchen to the dining area are crucial to leading people through the house.

Materials used are sympathetic to the existing structure but employed in different ways; the brick slip wall is similar in colour to the existing one but uses a modern bond and a thin red column in the corner contrasts with the thick brick column on the veranda’s edge.

High-quality glass was specified to alleviate overheating issues, and a sedum green roof was installed for a softer finish. The garden is to be partially a wildflower space to encourage bees and other wildlife to nest, reflecting the client’s commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation.