THE PROPERTY
Highfield Road, Romford
A three bedroomed in Romford, home to a family of four, in an area of mainly semi-detached houses, and in a neighbourhood currently experiencing a lot of residential development. The original property was dark and gloomy, with deteriorating pebble dash, dark timber framed windows and dark crumbling roof tiles prone to leaking.
STEP ONE
The Brief
A development that added space and value, and ‘future proofed’ their home, plus an enlarged porch to be more of an asset to the house and improving insulation. Unusually, given the potential disruption, the client wanted to continue living in their property while work was done.
Step Two
Our Solution
- A rear dormer loft extension meets all the objectives for extra space and value. The re-designed porch adds utility, elegance and value. For the additional floor area, we designed a rear dormer loft conversion with a hip-to-gable roof extension; this not only provides the required extra space but permits much needed head-height on the new level.
- We wanted the extension to effortlessly marry with the existing property. The loft was set back from the principal elevation wall to comply with planning policies and, although not required, we proposed this setting back ‘wrap’ around and continue to the side elevation of the property; a relatively small detail, but a choice which allows the building as a whole to read well.
- A new staircase was designed to be straight, directly parallel to the hallway. Whilst the third bedroom was slightly reduced in size, this was done for a good purpose. Firstly, more natural light and views are brought into the hallway space from a window at the front and, secondly, the oppressive feeling of the previously small hallway was completely removed.
- Our client enjoys the morning sun and was keen to exploit opportunities to increase light in the house. Following the same trajectory as the existing staircase, and by adding a side window, we ensured the hallway is spacious and admits light from both the front and side of the building, bringing both the morning and afternoon sun.
- The extension could have been for two small bedrooms, but instead we recommended a new master bedroom; the composition and size of the space and openings were better suited. Two large skylights positioned on the sloped side (front) of the roof bring light and interesting views into the interior space. We recommend openable skylights with trickle vents to aid natural ventilation – loft spaces are one of the very few places in a house that can create and benefit from cross-ventilation.
- The new bedroom and shower room in the loft have two separate entrances. This allows maximum flexibility; members of the family from the first floor can use the bathroom without going into the new bedroom.
- The positioning of all elements are taken into consideration; from the pipework, to windows, doors and rooms. The new shower room was positioned directly above the existing bathroom on the first floor to reduce the amount of pipework to be installed, minimise complications and help to keep the project within timescale and budget.
- With our client’s approval, we chose white guttering to match the new high-quality UPVC white framed doors and windows. All the openings in the house are triple glazed. We did not stop there either; we also specified high quality German external insulative render to match the new openings and to minimise the chance of cold spots sometimes found on semi-detached buildings. The thermal efficiency of the building is now better than ever!
- The existing porch was too small. It could not house push chairs or footwear and added little visual appeal. Under the same planning application, we enlarged the porch, creating a better sense of entry and a buffer zone to help retain heat.
- With the combined effort of the client and our expertise, great design choices have been made and realised. The result is a well-designed and well-built house and home. Thoughtful use of space, carefully chosen materials and finishes, the alignment of the windows and doors, and a real attention to detail are all apparent and appreciated.
Step Three
The Result.
Where do you provide architectural design services?
Divi Design also provide architectural design services across all areas of London, not just Romford.
We’ve completed projects throughout the capital, such as home extensions in Havering and transformative developments in Romford.
You can take a look at the rest of our portfolio for examples of our work in other areas such as Thurrock.
So whether you’re in Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, or any other London borough, we’re on hand to provide architectural design services.
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