Located in Penn Village, Buckinghamshire along a narrow street, lined with country hedgerows typical of the area. These hedgerows form green boundaries to the existing house meaning most of the house is hidden from the road creating a secluded setting. The house originally dates from the 1940s, a drastic remodelling took place in the 1970s creating the current aesthetic. Further remodelling in the mid 2000’s changed the internal layout. While the house has 3 good size bedrooms, its internal layout is a myriad of circulation space and counter intuitive entrances. Fellow collaborators and owners Suzanne + Tom came to us with specific brief. They wanted a sustainable, modern and future proofed home. That could change and adapt over time as they grow. Dark uninviting rooms due to the past ill-conceived alterations plague the house. Counter intuitive entrances in the north and west of the structure have caused much confusion due to the lack of an unrecognizable front entrance, currently visitors walk around the perimeter of the building to access the property. An additional bedroom was a must have as well as a working from home space or study. One parameter was to limit the impact of any extension to the mature surrounding garden. Inspired by modernist West Coast California houses of the 1950s and 60s 'V house' needed to act almost like a stage set. Orientation was key in setting up a number of aspect ratios throughout the house that frame the view of the garden. The new west entrance give a new identity to the property, a clear sightline is established from the road. An inviting approach over a raised timber boardwalk adorned by a wild flower meadow. Behind the door a new open plan living and dining spaces lead you through to the rest of the house. The wrap around extension allows new spaces to plug-in to the existing house, multiple apertures designed to harvest the light by following the suns paths create an ever changing interior that mimics the actions of capturing motion film. These light filled spaces vary from new working from home study space with a seamless corner window desk to an open plan living space with large corner aperture window. The living space connects to the garden via a large glass pivoting door opening into a micro court yard open to the sky via a large curved aperture. A wraparound bench creates a unique dining space above a bespoke stepped timber soffit creates a backdrop for the dramatic curved skylights. Playing with the light to create unique and ever changing shadows on the walls and floor below. At the heart of this plan a sculptured fireplace and media unit with a rather Hollywood opening mechanism to allow it to be hidden from view while not in use a must have for a couple in the film industry.

The extension creates two peaks, one at the rear of the property and one at the new westerly entrance. These peaks slope to the corner window of the dining space creating the V shaped roof, the roof is planted with wildflowers and sedum which blooms throughout the year. The façade is split between the upper cladding – Charred Scots Pine boarding, Lower cladding – Thermopine natural boarding. This split was in direct response half timbered historic buildings in the the surrounding conservation area.

Date - 2023 Cost M2 - N/A GIFA - 25m2 Structural Engineer - Balanced Structures Visuals - Hyper_