Three Acres, Horsham

RIBA Stage: 0 - 3 (Design)

Project Value: £250,000

Sector: Residential, private

For this exciting project, we were asked by our client to transform the appearance of the property and almost double the internal floor space all within a tight budget. It was essential that we worked within the constraints of the strict local planning guidelines and we established a good working relationship with the planning officer. The site parameters presented by the tight suburban environment meant our architecture needed to be bold, creative and considerate of the prevailing character and materials of the street.

Our response was to design a two storey side extension that complemented the existing feature gable of the building without competing with it, and unified the disconnected existing extensions to the front elevation by providing a linear canopy and new cladding. We completed the transformation of the front elevation by adjusting the dimensions of the high windows, providing full height glazing giving generously proportioned and light filled bedrooms. Finally we added a feature circular window to act as a beacon to the street facing gable.

It was essential that our choice of materials was considerate of the traditional vernacular of the surrounding buildings. In addition to introducing simple brick detailing to frame the new extensions, we also used a Flemish bond brickwork in order to differentiate the new side extension form the existing building. This technique allowed us to tell the story of the building's evolution whilst ensuring all parts work in harmony.