House in Oxford

residential / extension / reconfiguration

We were approached by a couple who had recently moved to a house located in Oxford. The house is a typical terrace with an offshoot to the rear housing a kitchen and bedroom. The house was in desperate need of updating, and due to previous single storey extension and a conservatory - their kitchen / dining space was dark and had no view to the garden.

We started by surveying the existing house and identifying the key constraints and opportunities. (See the diagrams below) We always aim to do this visually to give the client an understanding of the space and to make sure we're fully responding to their concerns.

We looked at multiple options for extending and providing the dining space they wanted through various reconfigurations of the rear of the house.

With each option we modelled the design in 3D with furniture to allow the client to visualise exactly what the spaces would be like. The computer model is geo-located enabling an accurate representation of how light will enter the rooms at different times of day / year.

Option 01 -

Open Plan

Option 02 -

U-Shape Kitchen

Option 03 -

Galley Kitchen

Option 01 - Open Plan

This option demonstrates the original brief. The rear walls are demolished to form an open plan kitchen / diner. The dining room is converted to a WC / utility space to make the most of the dark central space. The existing bathroom is demolished and a large set of double doors allow light into the new dining space. The existing conservatory is removed and is replaced with a new kitchen. Above the kitchen is a large rooflight to maximise light.

Option 02 - Open Plan

This option retains the existing bathroom and turns it into a study space. The existing dining room is converted to a WC / utility space to make the most of the dark central space. The existing bathroom is demolished and a large set of double doors allow light into the new dining space. The existing conservatory is removed and is replaced with a new kitchen. The roof above the kitchen is pitched and has a large rooflight to maximise light.

Option 03 - Galley

This option retains as much of the existing building as possible, only using steel to remove the wall separating the existing kitchen and bathroom. The existing dining room is retained with the space between the fireplace and living room converted to a WC to make the most of the dark central space. The existing bathroom is removed and replaced with a galley kitchen. The existing conservatory is removed and is replaced with a new flat roof extension. The roof above the extension is flat and has a small rooflight along the rear to allow light deep into the space.

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