Contemporary Rear Extension for Traditional Cottage

Demolish tired extension, brace rear cottage wall, construct timber framed extension with Critall windows, modify and clad garage, landscaping.

For this project near Saxmundham, we removed the 1970’s kitchen extension and constructed, in its place, an energy-efficient kitchen/diner, utility space and shower room.

With the existing kitchen removed, we underpinned the rear wall of the cottage and installed a steel lintle. We then built a timber-framed, single-story extension. This was strengthened with steel to support the rooflight which provides natural light over the kitchen. The roof joists were left exposed to create a more interesting ceiling. We installed a beautiful Crittall window and doorway providing a strong connection with the garden and introducing plenty of natural light into the space.

We installed aluminum framed windows each side of the new structure close to the cottage. Bricks salvaged from the original floor were laid as thresholds to create a transition between the traditional cottage and the contemporary kitchen and dining area and to accommodate a slight change in levels.

We installed a shower room including doors made in our custom joinery workshop and a traditional hardwood duckboard made in the workshop by our new joinery apprentice.

We relocated the existing garage slightly by removing one end and building-out the other. The garage was then clad in timber to match the new extension and we completed landscaping works to finish-off the project.

Architect: Brooks Architects