Newark Drive

The B listed building required external and internal restoration, including repair to the fabric of the building, restoring the house, creating a flat for a relative and making it energy efficient. External fabric repairs included re-slating, traditional stonework repairs and careful restoration of stain glass windows. Internally, the main house was completely restored with the aim of balancing the character of the traditional building and integrating a contemporary feel into the design.

Our main responsibilities were a largely glazed garden room extension and conversion of the main attic space, each with their own challenges. The main extension had to appear traditional with a glazed ‘top-hat’ cupola with clerestorey glazing. A small steel frame was required to provide offset junctions and stepping wall planes. The existing stained-glass window in the house stairwell meant the extension’s connection to the existing building was at a lower level than the main upper roof. We were able to design alternative loadpaths for both overall stability and bracing of the new building to counteract this. We provided added value in the attic space by justifying the existing structure with minimum strengthening and using the inherent strength of the geometry to carry the loads. The internal transformation created a beautiful space full of natural light and a connection to the garden.