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Blandford Road

Refurbishment and extension of a 20th century villa

The refurbishment and extension of this C20th villa dating from 1907 has dramatically transformed our client’s ‘forever home’ in St Albans.

The design features substantive changes throughout including a linear kitchen-diner extension which replaces the previous ‘L-shaped’ addition.

 

The potential of the rear garage has been maximised by converting the space into a home office and garden studio with separate storage. An adjoining carport, constructed using stained black larch, seamlessly ties the structures together.

 

Responding to the site’s east-west orientation the linear extension is angled to bring sunlight into the deep plan. Clad in black weathered zinc, the extension complements the facing brickwork of the house and clearly defines the old and new chapters of the building.  The 

glazed-end elevation features black steel framed crittal style doors that open onto the patio for outside dining, with raised planters providing a sense of enclosure.

Internally, the extension is  strikingly detailed with an exposed vaulted timber ceiling of douglas fir and birch ply with black steel connections that achieve an elegant roof structure which appears to hover.

 

The kitchen installation features stainless steel worktops and an applewood island block centrepiece. Shaped rooflights introduce further daylight and animated plays of sunlight and shadow throughout the day and skyward views of the existing villa and open skies beyond.  

 

A spiral wine cellar is located below floor level and sits directly below the roof node (apex).  The glass cellar door opens on to the downward spiral and is lit with a selection of coloured feature lights. 

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