GATE HOUSE
Beautiful timber and glazed extension to traditional style property, Oxfordshire
This stunning single-storey rear extension transforms a large 1930s detached home into the epitome of "California living." Featuring expansive south-facing glazing and a striking glulam-supported glass canopy, the design captures the client's vision of seamless indoor-outdoor living.
The original house, with its traditional red brick, clay tile roof, and white painted-timber casement windows, offered generous space but lacked a cohesive layout. The disjointed interior did not take full advantage of the home's picturesque views of the patio, swimming pool, and expansive garden. Inspired by this setting, the client sought to create a unified ground-floor living space that effortlessly merges the indoors with the inviting outdoor environment, embodying a relaxed, sun-soaked California aesthetic.
OUR
APPROACH
The heart of our design solution was the creation of a bright, naturally lit, 23-metre-long circulation spine featuring a structural glass rooflight above. This unifying element serves as a central axis, seamlessly linking nearly all the spaces within the home, including the newly added extension.
A standout feature of the design is a set of large, slim-framed sliding glass doors that disappear into a concealed cavity pocket when opened. This creates a fully open aperture, maximizing the experience of true indoor-outdoor living.
To further enhance this connection to the outdoors, we incorporated an external covered veranda. The skeleton-like structure, made from a series of glued laminated timber beams and posts, supports a structural glass canopy that offers protection from the elements.
This combination of structure and glazing imparts a light and delicate aesthetic to the extension, allowing it to harmonize effortlessly with the solid masonry of the original house. The use of silvering Siberian larch timber cladding adds a pleasing contrast, complementing the sleek glazing and timber beams while highlighting the warmth of the existing red brick.
PROJECT
GALLERY
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
Finer bespoke elements of the design include an outdoor daybed with built-in storage beneath and a green sedum blanket on the extension’s flat roof, providing the owners with pleasing views from the first-floor windows.
AREAS
Proposed new build area (GIFA) : 80 sqm
Proposed refurbishment area (GIFA) : 130 sqm
New outdoor covered areas : 60 sqm