Situated in the countryside of Stockton – on – Tees, the client required a respectful low energy family dwelling for the future, consisting of a full retrofit of their existing home and extension to the rear on both ground and first floors. The architectural approach is sensitive, building on the existing palette of materials by using brick with a modern twist, choosing an elongated profile to provide a contemporary feel. The connection with the garden was also important, so large openings were created throughout the design to encourage the transversal between inside and out.  Internally, on the ground floor, large open plan living spaces were created to bring family and friends together, whilst on the first floor, bedrooms are spread out to give each family member their own space. To the north east, a connected annex hosts quarters for the clients parents, future proofing the home for intergenerational living.

Creating a more sustainable home was also close to the clients and our hearts, therefore, it was decided to retain the existing house and retrofit this with cavity insulation and high performance windows. Meanwhile, the new rear extension uses highly insulated pre-assembled timber frame cassettes, coupled with a quality air tight layer and mechanical ventilation heat recovery system throughout to reduce heating demand, improve air quality and comfort. The rear canopy was designed with thermal comfort in mind, providing solar shading when the sun is at its highest and hottest whilst letting sunlight deep into the plan in early and late parts of the day to passively heat the home.