THE HIDEAWAY || This Home Extension Strikes the Ideal Balance Between Natural Light and Privacy
How do you create a bright, welcoming space while retaining privacy amidst a home with low boundary fences on all sides?
This was just one of the many challenges Alter & Company faced when creating the Hideaway for the homeowners of this Sussex cottage. The homeowners love gardening and the low fencing ensured the garden received uninterrupted light for 70% of the day.
The request for the new extension to the home was to revamp the first floor to provide a large kitchen and living space, transforming the existing kitchen into a separate dining room and ground floor shower room. The homeowners also desired to create a better connection to the extensive garden space around the property to allow in as much light as possible into the new rooms.
The new side extension allows in as much light as possible while also maximizing views of the garden.
The solid wall facing the backyard helps to retain privacy while the creative floor-to-ceiling strip of windows draw in natural light.
The innovative design solution makes a hidden contemporary gable box-windowed extension that strikes a balance between lighting and privacy. Instead of featuring a fully open glass box, the extension features a strip of windows that wrap around the structure from floor to ceiling from wall to wall, but with a solid wall facing the backyard. With this execution, the residents retain their privacy and also allow in light from all sides.
The team designed a bespoke window and blinds solution for the extension.
The extension also faced the constraint of the tight garden space and the location of the home being in a conservation area.
Construction during the pandemic posed additional challenges, but the team worked closely with the contractors to procure quality materials for the extension on a tight budget and didn’t rush to complete the project. The result is an extension that achieves the client’s objectives despite the various challenges presented in the project.
We can imagine how delighted the owner must be with the creative execution as they sit in the rocking chair listening to the pitter-patter of the rain on the windows above bringing life to their beloved garden.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Team: Alter & Company
Project size: 70 m2
Project Budget: £171000
Completion date: 2021
Photography: Lorenzo Zandri