The Glass House
Client: private residential
Contract value: £ 245,000
Gross internal floor area: 98 m2
Location: Hertfordshire
Contractors: Ratcliff & Burridge
The Glass House
Client: private residential
Contract value: £ 245,000
Gross internal floor area: 98 m2
Location: Hertfordshire
Contractors: Ratcliff & Burridge
Willow Close / Bishops Stortford
Extension / Interior Architecture
"Transforming our home was a major project for us. We had seen some previous projects by Formx Architects and were impressed with the attention to detail and the finished results. The spaces we have built are seamlessly joined to the main house and all interconnected with plenty of daylight. The framing of the garden views was central to the design and we’re delighted with the finished results. We now have a home that reflects and supports our day to day life and we enjoy each part of it every day"
Client: Willow Close Hertfordshire
The wrapped house is a series of interconnected spaces that run the entire lenght of the rear and side of the exiting 1960s detached house. The side addition provides a new bedroom, dressing and bathroom with the garden elveation to the rear comprising three spaces; The central kitchen and dining area, a sitting room with wood burning stove and a music room/work space.
Each of the three areas are defined by a partial brick fin wall and each space has separate full height glazing. All open onto the garden terrace with the central kitchen and dining area having sliding doors than are concealed within the wall thinckness (pocket door) when fully open.This provides an uncluttered space onto the terrace with a deep overhang roof providing shelter and shade in summer months.
The music room has double width sound proof oak doors.
A series of aligned roof lights flood the spaces with light and the deeper roof overhangs have an external solar apertures to give more light but maintain shelter from rain.
The client brief called for a seamless integration between the new spaces and between the exiting and new parts of the house. Space to make music together, entertaining and connections with the garden were key priorities.
The materials are warm and textural, cedar soffits and cladding to the front elevation and oak joinery internally. This is complimented with the inner/outer walls in 'Con Mosso' brown/white brickwork.
The ‘single storey wrap-around concept’ takes the exiting flat roof single storey to the front of the building and wraps it around the side and back of the main two storey building, The extent of the new roof to the side (north) follows the line of the private garden and wall. The proposals transform the frontage of the house with a slatted timber screen and a metal clad roof profile.
The planning application addressed the sensitive and prominent context and location of the house. Our approach looked to update, not depart, from the existing architectural and streetscape distinctiveness.
