Longmead, Wrightington

Brief:

• Demolition of Existing Bungalow
• Design and Construction of a Contemporary Replacement Dwelling that Sympathized with the Local Vernacular
• New dwelling to include; 3 Double Bedrooms, 1 Master Suite, Separate Areas for Family Dining and Kitchen/Living Spaces
• Basement to include; Cinema Room, Games Room, Gym and Pool

Bio: The client approached Peter Dickinson Architects to design a contemporary replacement dwelling on a site that consisted of a single detached bungalow. The client presented Peter Dickinson Architects with a brief that required a large amount of accommodation, restricted the by the building height of the existing dwelling.

The proposed design scheme was to allow for a traditional format – family, kitchen and living accommodation on the first floor, with bedroom and master suite facilities located at first floor. Due the restriction on building height, the first floor accommodation would have to partially exist within the roof space of the dwelling, requiring creative measures to be undertaken provide additional headroom. Peter Dickinson Architects decided to discard the idea of traditional dormer windows to provide additional headroom and instead took a more minimalistic approach by raising a small element of the roof line to provide a Juliet Balcony . This worked aesthetically as the sharp and crisp lines of the slate tile roof allowed the articulation of this raised element to be consistent with the rest of the dwelling, where a traditional dormer window would have looked out of place.

The client’s further accommodation requirements, such as pool and gym, were designed within a basement. This allowed for further accommodation to be created without increasing the building height, volume or footprint.

The end result is a contemporary home, comprised of a sensitive pallet of materials which allow it sympathize with the local vernacular and appeal to the dwellings rural setting. The protruding balcony from the first floor Master Suite, and large gable windows allow for panoramic and extensive views across the rear garden and countryside beyond, allowing the dwelling to engage with and celebrate its rural context.