Private Client

A past client ours, recently relocated from London to Buckinghamshire returned with a brief to replace an existing single storey outhouse / garage with a two-storey block housing additional guest accommodation, overflow utility space, boot room and storage, alongside the reconfiguration of the internal floors and the insertion of a number of additional window opening to benefit from the long vista across the deep ground beyond.

The early 19th century two-storey, red brick house lies in the village of Long Crendon, home to some modern private houses by renowned British architects. With a neighbouring courthouse dating back to the 1500s, featuring in the Doomsday book, the house sits within a conservation area with much of the area of local historical interest. The main house fronts the  road however to the rear, a large expanse of lawn is divided into primary and secondary gardens enabling it to reflect the scale of the property and offer privacy where desired.

Taking inspiration from numerous, surrounding outbuildings – both domestic and agricultural our proposed replacement structure is to finished in black stained, larch cladding on both wall and roof. Providing a stark yet complementary aesthetic the larch will weather, losing its sharper edges over time allowing it the contrasting with the red brick house. Aiming to reduce the use of steel to a minimum the timber -framed structure uses a single beam to span the longest distance enabling the new addition to connect with the existing structure.

In a twist to the referenced traditional outbuildings all external additions and ornamentation such as gutters, downpipes overhanging eaves and fascia’s are eliminated, reducing the building to a simple contained form featuring concealed gutters.  Rooflights are finished flush with the cladding and dissolve from view even when seen from above. Deep punctured window and door openings frame the driveway/garden beyond with  the doors being clad in stained larch to reduce their appearance to little more than a recess or external overhang into which one enters to enter or leave the building.