Westmead

The existing three-storey family home is an impressive villa constructed in Bath stone, with traditional red clay roof tiles and finely detailed period features. While architecturally impressive from the outside, the interior had been incrementally reconfigured over time, resulting in a fragmented layout that no longer supported modern family life. Crucially, the principal kitchen had been relocated to the first floor, leaving the ground level without the essential communal heart required for a triple-generational household.

The design brief was to create a ground-floor kitchen and dining room that would become the hub of the house - a space for the family to congregate. This meant delivering a generous kitchen, step-free access suitable for all family members, a stronger relationship with the garden, and improved parking provision.

Moreover, the clients had a strong desire for the sympathetic use of contemporary materials. The ambition was not simply to extend, but to enhance the quality, functionality, and long-term performance of the property.

Our strategy was to introduce a confident contemporary intervention that complements - rather than mimics - the original Edwardian architecture.

The new single-storey kitchen extension replaces a former lean-to with a precisely detailed volume defined by an asymmetric pitched roof in earthy red zinc (VM Zinc Pigmento Red). The tone subtly reflects the weathered clay tiles of the existing house, creating visual continuity between old and new.

Working with bespoke joiners, a glazed corridor framed in Accoya timber forms a refined threshold between the original villa and the new extension. This connects to a carefully detailed timber pergola that provides solar control and seasonal shading. Internally, the design is characterised by the folding planes of the roof, which bounces light from the extensive Accoya-framed by glazing and a linear rooflight, enhancing spatial quality throughout the day.

Bath stone continues onto the extension walls, using reclaimed masonry where possible, supplemented with new ashlar sourced locally from a local quarry in Bath. Lime mortar joints match the original detailing, ensuring material integrity and longevity.

The garden was developed in parallel with the architecture, resulting in a design that nestles within the steep topography while opening out to a sunken courtyard. Planting beds are strategically placed to soften the hard surfaces, blurring the edges of the courtyard.

The result is a high-quality, light-filled family space that redefines the ground floor as the social heart of the home.

The new addition enhances spatial flow, improves accessibility, and strengthens the connection between house and garden. Carefully considered materials and detailing ensure that the extension sits comfortably within its historic context while expressing a modern identity.

This is a project defined by precision: practicality, junction detailing, material selection, and contextual sensitivity. It demonstrates how ambitious contemporary design can be applied to domestic-scale architecture. The new building is compact, but it packs a punch.

One of the principal technical challenges was working on a steeply sloping site, which required carving out a sunken courtyard to give the extension much-needed breathing space. Once the retaining walls were installed, the building began to take shape.

The asymmetric pitched roof -expressed internally as well as externally - was a key design feature. This visual language carries through the architecture, including a bespoke glazed gable, a striking linear rooflight, and a lightweight glazed connection to the existing house.

The pergola became an influential component of the design, integrating seamlessly with the building. It required careful detailing to sit elegantly against the existing house, achieved through a bespoke spaced-column arrangement and custom-coloured steel connections.

The material palette balances modern industrial elements with the warmth of Bath stone and timber. Additional features include a bespoke rain chain, a glazed pocket door, and Crittall-style internal doors.

Heritage Context

Designing within the Bath Conservation Area required a proposal that preserves and enhances character while clearly expressing contemporary craftsmanship. This was achieved through disciplined massing, refined roof geometry, and a carefully curated material palette.

Multi-Generational Accessibility

Returning the kitchen to ground level and maintaining step-free access ensures the home functions inclusively, without compromising architectural clarity.

Topography

The steeply sloping garden required coordinated architectural and landscape solutions to create usable external spaces and seamless internal thresholds.