Sitting in an area designed by the iconic architect Eric Lyons, this 60s/70s style of council estate aesthetic has an interesting edge. This type of build changes up the brick-built lines of council builds and breaks up the spaces with courtyards and green areas offering privacy as well as space for walking or playing. Most properties have their own, private gardens. 

The aim of this build was to keep a warm feel but with a modern twist, bringing light into a very practical space and optimising the space they had. The rear masonry wall was removed and replaced with glazing which re-connected the inside area with the mature garden. The wall was pushed right to the edge to gain as much space as possible but leaving side access to the garden from the front of the house. Since the space is a music room as well as an office, a solid wall was built on the neighbour’s side, to block out sound as much as possible. 

The timber roof plays a game between solid and transparent parts where light would be coming in. The glass screen creates access into the studio/office area along with plenty of light. A roof light is set into the ceiling, on the heavy walled side, to brighten the space while the glazed outlook and side view connects that area to the garden. There are no supporting columns so the ceiling seemingly floats, giving an interrupted view into the garden from inside the house. 

It is a very modest extension but configured with thought and care. It makes the most of the space and can also accommodate guests when needed. The kitchen was also refurbished and laid out differently to, again, optimise the space and offer extra storage solutions. 

Planning was straight forward, given the size of the space and nature of the work, but there was a challenge with tree roots. We opted to use micro piles so as not to disturb the trees and maintain a strong, sustainable foundation for the build.