The original house was constructed in the 1950's as a detached two-bedroomed brick bungalow, and is situated within a residential suburb amongst other bungalows and houses of varied sizes and styles. The project is our second house for the client, and required a comprehensive remodelling of both the house and garden. Although a common bungalow type, the design concept retains the key elements that define the existing architectural character. Viewed from the street the symmetrical brick frontage is preserved as the primary volume, and new additions on either side are set back to appear subservient and relatively inconspicuous; intentionally receding the project from public view.

      Entry into the house is through the existing front doorway, between the projecting curved bays of the two largest original rooms. Inside, an extended hallway reveals a double height space and overhead gallery, with return stairs rising under the roof slope accentuating the geometry of the opened up first floor roof volume. From the hallway the remainder of the original plan is absorbed by two new extensions which project out into the rear garden to accommodate a single large kitchen/dining area and principal bedroom wing. The extensions are situated at right angles to enclose the garden, and are placed apart to separate different functions and establish a stepped garden access from the hallway. The hipped roof has been improved at the rear by removal of a full width double dormer window and replacement with in-line windows. Accordingly, the extensions have flat roofs and are expressed as emerging out from below the cover of the existing roof pitch, such that the older roof appears as a governing datum and anchor to the overall composition.

      The rear garden is laid out between two exterior sitting areas and is bounded by a new rendered wall to the south, shaping the space into a private three-sided enclosure. As well as acting as a screen to neighbours, the wall organises the working areas of a small kitchen garden and potting shed, and conceals a lean-to south facing greenhouse which is entered around a curve on the end of the wall. The function of this singular curve is to gather and frame the position of the smaller outside sitting area; but it also acts as an endpoint to the graduated sequence of built form that starts with the original house, from where it echoes the curves of the bay windows found on the front elevation.