A Victorian cottage on a country estate in south Cheshire has been given a radical refurbishment with a contemporary flavour by David Brindley Architects. Brindley, who runs a one-man practice in Buxton, Derbyshire, set out “to restore the essence of the original cottage” by clarifying external forms and internal spaces.
As it stood, the two-storey brick cottage had an irregular pair of two-storey rear extensions that disintegrated into an agglomeration of minor lean-to additions. Brindley stripped away the lean-tos and lengthened one of the two-storey extensions by 2 m to match the other. In between, he slipped a new rear entrance hall with frameless glazed roof.
A dayroom has been created in one rear extension, opening out through wide french windows on to a garden terrace of timber decking. The original front entrance hall, staircase and landing have also been remodelled into a lofty double-height space. Opening up the house in this way has given it a feeling of light and space.
The refurbishment’s well-mannered modern style is complemented by simple detailing. Original lattice steel windows have been replaced by timber double casements. Concealed framing in the minimalist glass roof over the rear entrance is made up of galvanised steel channels set into the rendered brick walls on either side.
Credits
Client Sir Richard Baker-Wilbranham Architect David Brindley Architects Structural Engineer Blackwood Structural Design Services Engineer Portland Associates Quantity Surveyor Thomas Sands Main Contractor R Beech & Son
Refurbishment
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