The client asked us to provide them with a beautiful contemporary home design that would make a statement in their well-established neighbourhood. Our brief was to extend and refurbish a large, detached home situated in the ‘Villa Zone’ of the Colinton Conservation Area, taking cognizance of the requirement to provide architectural quality in an historically significant part of the city.
Architecturally poor features of the house were removed, and the inefficient interior was completely stripped to make better use of the space and provide a significantly improved layout. The aesthetic of the new extension provides the desired street presence, and a grand double-height entrance establishes a focal point that the house was previously missing. Upgrading the rest of the building elevation creates a single coherent architectural style.
Retrofitting the existing building with significant fabric upgrades, increasing the airtightness and installing an MVHR system has retained the embodied carbon of the existing house and significantly reduced the energy consumption of the building. Providing improved air quality and making better use of natural daylight will make the house a healthier and more pleasant place to live. Using high quality finishes and the inclusion of features such as a cinema, gym, games room and master suite creates a desirable luxury home for the client and their family.