Despite the pandemic, a contemporary extension to a family home is well and safely underway in Lower Earley.
In September 2019, the owners of this four-bedroomed detached property a young family with children contacted Tait Architects. They wanted to extend their ground floor, which had a cramped and restricted feeling, while simultaneously transforming it into a lighter, brighter, and more open environment.
The existing layout consisted of separate rooms, including a kitchen, utility room, and living rooms, each of which opened into a single hallway. This set-up restricted the flow throughout the home, created a dark entrance hallway and proved impractical. A second problem was that the main living room at the rear of the house was situated mostly in shadow. This was due both to the room’s orientation and to a light limiting pergola that covered one side of the house. Finally, small windows and restricted space constrained the family’s use of both kitchen and utility rooms these small and disjointed spaces simply did not meet the needs of a young and active family.
In response to the brief, our proposals introduce a full-width rear extension to the property. The proposed internal layout utilises the entire width of the house to create a spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and living room which will open out into the garden. The extension will incorporate contemporary flush glazed roof lights to bring much-needed light into the new areas. Large openings for sliding glass doors and windows will further brighten the home and frame the family’s view of their spacious garden.
While works on site were delayed slightly due to the pandemic, this home demonstrates how projects continue to progress even during these unprecedented times. Works have continued since the end of the lockdown, and the extended, remodelled house is now taking shape.
This house is well on its way to becoming a contemporary, cohesive, bright and open family home with plenty of room for growing children. Completion is anticipated by the end of the year.
