Blackhurst Hall Bretherton

Brief

• Alterations of the existing internal layout ot create additional living space
• Single storey rear extension to form a garden room

Bio: The client approached Peter Dickinson Architects to conduct the design, planning application and technical resolution for the alterations and extensions to Blackhurst Hall. A traditional dwelling which had been stripped back to bare walls and floors but was seen as a great opportunity by the client to become a comfortable and generous family home.

As the project was within the Greenbelt the size of any extension work was limited, presenting a challenge to both the client and to Peter Dickinson Architects as how to maximise the living space of the proposed dwelling. A single storey garden room extension was proposed along the rear elevation, composed of primarily of glass and timber, providing a complementary addition to the brickwork of the existing structure. The extension provided additional living space, as an extrusion of the existing living room and an additional dining area. The use of glass as a primary material allows the large rear garden to interact visually with the internal space, and provides a link to the external garden space. The extension also incorporates a utility room, W.C. and storage, freeing up valuable internal space within the original part of the dwelling.

The end result is a contemporary addition, which both compliments and enhances the original dwelling. The garden room allows the dwelling to connect with the garden space, both through the extensive use of glazing and through the use of French windows, opening out onto an external terrace. The use of timber appeases the dominance original redbrick structure, and the use of stone slate mirrors the line and material of the existing roof, allowing the extension to tenderly connect with the building.