Project to build new downsized accommodation within owners back garden.
With overall dimensions of 10 x 13.5 metres the plot comprises part of the back garden of a large semi- detached house. Bounded on two sides by high brick walls, surrounded by trees and potentially overlooked by neighbouring properties on all sides, organisation, orientation and aspect have been carefully considered. It is also important that the new house be visually discrete, as not to impact negatively upon the surrounding properties.
To minimise visual impact, the house is sunken down an entire floor in height, projecting only a single story from ground level. The intention is to create a simple brick enclosure, which reads visually from ground level as a series of garden walls.
Privacy is ensured by a solid brickwork enclosure around three sides. The fourth side is pulled back from the boundary, creating private amenity space to the East. This elevation is extensively glazed along the length of a linear terraced garden, which acts as an external aspect for the internal spaces
The enclosed garden is sunken half a level below ground and arranged to ensure maximum exposure to light. Sun study analysis has generated a stepped form for this space, working with the angle of shadow projected by the south garden wall. The garden rises up at the north end, to a terrace interfacing with the principal living accommodation.
Main living accommodation is housed within a single building volume, set back from the street front behind a lower, secondary volume. This lower element houses the generous cycle station and refuse storage – with immediate street access.
The principal entrance level contains an open plan living, kitchen, dining area with study and an external terrace. The lower level houses bedrooms and secondary accommodation.
Accommodation is compact. However great care has been taken to plan efficiently and utilise the limited aspect to maintain visible connections between open spaces at all times. The enclosed garden is key to this strategy, providing a central focus and principal aspect to all accommodation. This is enhanced by maximising glazed elements where permissible.
External appearance is kept deliberately simple. A palate of traditional natural materials is employed in a simple contemporary manner. Principally, high quality brickwork, will be contrasted against large panes of full height glazing. Brickwork will extend to the interior alongside exposed polished concrete floors.
