The clients of this house like the area so much this is their third house in the estate! The rear of the house faces south-east overlooking Kilbogget Park. The site of this 1970s semi-detached bungalow is slightly wider than most on this road and because of a marked slope from front to back it has a low-ceilinged room underneath: therefore the potential for development was significant. We quickly agreed a brief to extend the full length of the house (after removing the garage and utility) and locate a master bedroom and ancillary at lower ground level, and a study and den in the attic too.
By having the living room (which is open plan to the living-dining area) a few steps up it allows a full height master bedroom at lower ground level (without significant costly excavation) while the ensuite and walk-in-wardrobe that serve the bedroom have lower ceiling heights. The Living room and living-dining area have large windows designed to optimise views and solar gain (though deep roof overhangs protect against Summer overheating). A large deck opens off these rooms to provide external recreational space with stairs to the garden below.
The house has a painted cavity wall to front and rendered hollow block to sides and rear. Our design features a timber frame extension with cement board cladding and external wall insulation to all other external walls. We established it was cheaper and quicker to remove the existing roof than to adjust, brace and insulate the existing roof structure. With ndew triple glazing, redecoration, heating and wiring this house and garden will be transformed: an oasis on Granville Road.