connecting home and garden

hove, east sussex

This project is a good example of how to dramatically improve a family home by removing the conservatory. While people may have differing opinions on the aesthetic of conservatories, one thing we can agree on: they are vastly underused spaces. They are too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. In this case, removing the conservatory and creating a new single-storey 4-metre deep, full-width extension provided an extra 25m2 of useful living space within this home. There was no need for Planning Permission as the size of the extension fell within the limits of Permitted Development legislation.

A large open plan living/dining/kitchen area now spills out onto the garden. The row of expansive skylights floods the space with light. Removing two existing chimneys and spanning a new structural beam across the width of the new opening creates an uninterrupted open space. Large sliding doors connect the inside to the outside, regardless of weather or seasons. The original timber floor was removed to make way for a new concrete floor with integral underfloor heating.

As is standard in all of our projects, we specified low maintenance materials, high-performance windows and doors, AAA rated energy efficient appliances, low flush toilets, low flow rate taps, efficient light fixtures and environmentally friendly paints, all helping save energy and reduce carbon emissions.