Vivian F - Richmond London
This period period property was ideally suited to increase the amount of usable living space to the rear. The client purchased the property and immediiately contacted Ask My Architect to book in for a consultation and Live Design Session. Adjacent to the existing built form to the rear was a generous side yard that could be easily filled in to give a generous open plan living space creating a new hub for the home and all the entertaining space the owner wannted.
Step 1: Consultation & Live Design Session.
The consultation for this project took 3 hours to complete as the work required was localized to the ground floor at the rear of the property. One of our Architects met the client and carefully listened to the type of lifestyle space they wanted to achieve. A key point emphasized by the client was the connection of the second reception room to the new proposed open plan space and the requirement for as much light as possible in this area. The existing doors from the second reception room out into the side return where very tall meaning that the roof of the extension would need to be tall enough to clear the head of these doors.
Once the measured survey was complete our Architect sat down with tithe client and sketched out 3 different options locating the kitchen and dining areas in different areas hoof the proposed open plan space. This allowed our architect to take on board the personal choice of the client but advise them of the best layout to achieve this.
Step 2: Planning Approval
Once the Cliient had discussed the design layouts with friends and family and take a few days to consider if this was best for them they instructed Ask My Architect to moove tto step 2 - Planning Approval. Within a 4 week period the existing and proposed layouts where complete and signed off by the client.
Thankfully the neighbour in this instance hhad already build an extension on the otherside of the Party Wall. This meant that we could design a much higher infill extension than in normal circumstances. In most cases the height of the party wall between an infill extension and the yard of the nneighbouring property is restricted to circa 2.1 metres as this is deemed by the local authority to protect the amenity space of the neighbouring yard. However here we achiieved 2.5 metres and this meant we could clear the head of the exiisting doors from the second reception room into the extension.
Planning Approval was acheived without an hitches on this project to the delight of the client.
Step 3: Building Regulation Drawings
Once the planning application was submitted the client was happy that planning approval would be achieved and instructed Ask My Architect to proceed with Step 3 - Building Regulation Drawings. This was safe in the knowledge that we would laise with the planning case officer and communicate with them on a regular basis being open with them just incase the planner wanted any minor amendments to the planning drawings. It is always better to take this approach to achieve approval first time round.
The major points to get right at this stage was the support of the new steel that would need to be put in place to connect the infill extension back to the existing space to create the open plan entrainment. The design of roof carefully considering the setting out of the roof lights and inclusion of the box gutter to the edge of the roof to keep the gutter on the clients side of the party wall line and the integration of the infill extension with the existing brickwork on the rear elevation. We also added a new set roof French doors to the centre of the proposed elevation. We specified traditional traditional hardwood painted timber glazed doors to sit well beside the existing windows of the property.
The Building Regulation Drawings where used by the Main Contractor to provide a lump sum price for the build.
Step 4: Project Supervision and Builder Recommendation
Our Involvement at this stage was liimited 3 onsite meetings with the cliient and contractor. The first meeting was heald before the project was started on site, this give us the chance to go throuugh the design with the conttractor and agree worrking ttimes, proogram and ppayment schedule. The second mmeeting took place once all the structure was in place. At tthis mmeeting we chhangged 2 aspects of the build bby deciding to expose the brickwork on the inside of the new wall and lenghtten the new window at the end of the kitchen run toi a fuull height window from floor to head. This improoved the design and give a much more human scale to the rear elevation allso improving the visual connection with the existing ggarden space.
