SOCIAL SPACE
Daniel Rees of Rees Architects designed a multiuse addition to a terraced house for a couple and their two young children
‘The homeowners’ kitchen was in an old extension that was leaking and didn’t have insulation,’ says Daniel.
‘It was quite impractical for a family, especially one that likes to cook.
‘The couple wanted a new room with an open-plan feel, with space for a kitchen and dining area plus a desk. We extended over the footprint of the old extension.
‘Access from the hallway to the back part of the house was changed as part of the work. Now, when you come into the house, you can see straight through to the garden and it makes the hallway feel bigger and brighter.
‘The homeowners live in a Conservation Area, so the extension needed planning permission. We had to follow the design code for the Conservation Area and use brick that matched the existing brick. The glazing has black aluminium frames, which create a nice contrast to the yellow brick. We suggested sliding doors for their slim frames.
‘We took out an original window between the kitchen and the dining area, and stripped paint off the brickwork and repointed it. We wanted to create different areas as opposed to one big open-plan space and, as we didn’t have to take out a lot of structure, it kept the cost down.
‘We added a WC and utility room in the middle of the house so all the activity spaces are pushed to the back. The ceiling in the extension is high, so the doors are big, and there are two big roof windows to allow the light in more centrally.
‘The garden was unusable before and there was a level difference between inside and out. Now, the extension is lower so it’s seamless. Although they did lose exterior space, it’s a better garden.
‘The owners love the extension. Before, they didn’t invite many people round, but now they have lots of friends and family over.’
COSTS & CONTACTS Project cost £100,000 Architects Rees Architects, 020 3393 1337, rees.archi
GARDEN AREA
A rear extension is, of course, going to eat into your outdoor space. As well as considering what’s possible size-wise either under PD or with planning permission, you need to think about whether you’re left with sufficient garden to enjoy. Consider, too, how future buyers will look on the arrangement, especially if you live in a city where green space is so valuable. On the upside, the project could present an opportunity to redesign the garden so, even though there’s less, it becomes more usable through creating a connection between indoors and out and re-landscaping.
DESIGN DESIRES
Think about what you want the extension to look like from the outside, as well as considering the interior. When it comes to materials, the world is unlikely to be your oyster even if you are extending with planning permission, while PD demands materials similar to the existing house. Talk to your architectural designer about cladding and render options, as well as the roofline, under the development regime you’re pursuing.
INNER LINK
The downfall of many an extension in the past is that it was a room bolted on to the rear of a home rather than feeling like part of the ground floor. To avoid this issue, planning the connection between existing and new is vital. Opting not to hang a door between the hallway and the rear extension could help. You might also consider whether you want a more open-plan layout on this floor of the house, but bear in mind that a structural engineer will be required to calculate the support needed if walls are to be removed.
GREAT GLAZING
One of the biggest pros of a rear extension is the possibility of improving the connection between house and garden by boosting views. Bi-folds can optimise the merging of interior and exterior because they concertina out of the way when fully open, while sliding doors offer the largest expanse of glazing. Don’t forget fixed glazing, though, particularly for a kitchen area were you don’t want to create a pathway for traffic to the outside – it’ll still optimise views.