Northwood Drive | Wadsley | Sheffield
SIX AD provides designs for a three storey family home to be extended to provide much needed space for three additional family members.
Brief
SIX AD initially met with clients George & Lindsay Lonchar in August 2009, to discuss proposals to extend and remodel their detached property in Wadsley Park Village, Sheffield. The main brief was as follows :
- To absorb the existing double garage in to the habitable space.
- Extend and remodel the lower ground floor.
- Provide a balcony area to the existing kitchen, located over the proposed lower ground floor extension.
Challenges + Opportunities
The main challenges on the project were in finding a solution that allowed freedom and privacy for the family member living at the lower ground floor level, without inhibiting circulation through the house and access to the garden for the other family members.
Providing an escape route from the new family room was also an issue. We agreed a solution with the Building Control Officer, that emergency escape through a window on to the single storey extension roof was acceptable.
The sloping site provides opportunities for unencombered, panoramic views. A stronger link between the habitable space and the garden / landscape beyond was highly desirable and clearly possible. This was complicated by the fact that the views from the living accommodation at the lower ground floor level needed to be maintained. A number of layout options were ruled out based on the position of the staircase.
Design
The garage was subdivided to provide an external storage area and a family room. The reordering of this space required thermal improvements to the fabric of the building to allow it to function as habitable space.
The lower ground floor extension was designed as a single storey brick structure, with a duo-pitched roof to minimise the overall mass and to ensure that views of the garden were maintained from the proposed family room.
The extension provides self-contained living accommodation for a senior family member. At lower ground floor level, the existing living room and cloakroom were retained and a kitchen was installed in an adjacent room. The extension provides an en-suite bedroom and lobby to the garden.
The existing window to the kitchen / dining area was lengthened to allow for new french doors and a new balcony was formed over a flat roof portion of the new extension. The balcony is accessible from the existing upper ground floor kitchen. In a later phase, an external staircase will be added.
The building materials used in the extension were specified to match the existing materials. Original features were incorporated in to the design of the extension, such as the brick corbels at eaves level and the soldier courses to the window and door heads.
Services
SIX AD were appointed to fulfill the duties set out in our Limited Appointment, which included:-
Preparation
Conducting an appraisal and developing an accurate brief.
Design
Producing conceptual designs, continuing design development, undertaking technical design and production information and submitting an application for Planning Permission.
Conclusions
Not all of the design features have been carried through from the SIX AD design scheme to the completed project. The brick corbels have been omitted, as have the brick plinth surrounds to the balcony support posts.
These small details would have served to soften the appearance of the balcony. SIX AD was not appointed to oversee works during the construction phase, otherwise these missng elements would have been included.
"We came to SIX AD with a situation we were finding very challenging; trying to find a house we could afford that had the potential to convert or extend into a granny flat and also a second lounge or playroom for our four boys. Kris’ advice and perspective even at the house-hunting stage was invaluable. Once the right house was secured, Kris spent many hours with us working out the design that would be both affordable and right for our family’s needs. He suggested things we had never thought of which gave us lots more space than we would otherwise have had as well as a much higher quality build.
"As well as being able to suggest multiple creative solutions, Kris is a person of absolute integrity and genuinely cares about providing the best possible service. He is also extremely thorough and pays great attention to every detail. Kris was incredibly patient and helpful as we sought to navigate our way through a myriad of decisions.
"Kris’ wealth of experience was evident from the outset and throughout the whole process. We are absolutely delighted with our garage conversion (to a family room) and balcony and my mum is thrilled with her self-contained granny flat. We’re so thankful to have found SIX AD – brilliant service, brilliant result. We would highly recommend them to anyone!"
George & Lindsay Lonchar
Clients
