The transformation of an ordinary, suburban semi-detached house in Chapel Allerton into a vibrant living space that reflects the creative lifestyles of our clients, Helen and Miles.
What the client wanted
Despite the original property being solid and robust it had endured several unsympathetic alterations and featured an outdated internal layout that was no longer suitable for contemporary living.
From the first conversations we had with Helen and Miles about how they could reimagine their home, it soon became apparent that they had the appetite to push the boundaries and think outside the conventional.
Central to the brief were aspirations to create a home that had been crafted to meet their interests and lifestyle. As a practice, we thrive on opportunities like this as they challenge us creatively which results in exciting, innovative architecture.
Our idea
The design approach we adopted began by removing the alterations made to the existing property by the previous owners. This included the demolition of a cold, leaky conservatory and an unsightly u-PVC porch, that offered no real functional benefit to the client.
With the superfluous additions removed, the house could be adapted and extended in a simple, cohesive manner. The design intent was to create a home for Helen and Miles that they could easily customise, to suit their lifestyle. Both enjoy spending time in the kitchen (Miles had his own restaurant in Leeds for several years) and they share an extensive record collection. Creating a space where they could cook and enjoy music together was central to the design, as were maximising natural light levels internally and creating uninterrupted views of their unusually large garden.
The ground floor layout was reconfigured to create a pantry, a utility room and a cloakroom. A wraparound extension was then introduced to the side and rear of the property, creating a generous, open-plan kitchen, dining and living area on the lower level. The extension also allowed for the master bedroom to benefit from an en-suite bathroom and dressing area on the first floor.
The design of the extension deliberately contrasts with the original dwelling and utilises a series of tiered, flat-roofed elements. A benefit of adopting this approach is that flat roof forms are often the most cost-effective solution, simply because clients do not have to spend money on constructing and finishing volumes that have no practical use. A material palette of vertical larch cladding, aluminium glazed sliding doors and red brick further define the contrast between old and new.
Strengthening the connection between the home and the garden was outlined as an integral aspect of the project at its inception. To blur the lines between the indoors and the outdoors, we made deliberate design choices that emphasised this aesthetic. This included lowering the floor level of the open-plan space so that it aligned with the external terrace, with no level change being required. A series of glazed sliding corner doors have also been included within the design and these allow a large expanse of the extension to be open to the garden beyond – perfect for those warmer summer months. Finally, a large roof light is introduced at the rear of the flat-roof extension and means that the kitchen still benefits from natural light.
The internal fit out of the property was co-ordinated by Helen and Miles and include built-in record storage and a bespoke plywood kitchen, all designed and installed by Esgate and Kier, a well-regarded, local joinery firm who we enjoy working with.
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