Foxcroft II is the sensitive transformation of a 1950s detached family home in St Albans.

 

Feneley Studio was commissioned to rework, extend and upgrade the four-bedroom house while retaining the clarity and character of the original design. Our approach focuses on light, warmth and connection to the garden, alongside a significant uplift in environmental performance.

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A new single-storey rear extension replaces an underperforming conservatory and forms the heart of the home. Stepped in plan and carefully scaled, it creates a generous kitchen, dining and living space that opens directly to the garden. A timber waffle roof structure defines the interior, its expressed ceiling grid adding depth and rhythm while allowing daylight to filter through two large rooflight openings to illuminate both the new extension and the existing house.

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The rear of the original house will be opened up to create a seamless flow between old and new, supported by concealed structure and a single circular column that subtly defines the dining space. Beyond this, the extension steps into the garden to form a sunken lounge inspired by the classic mid-century ‘conversation pit’, offering a more intimate place to relax while maintaining a strong visual connection to the landscape. Large corner glazing reinforces the idea of a living room within the garden.

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Externally, light brickwork, concrete detailing and climbing timber trellises will soften the extension, while a sedum roof introduces greenery and a pleasant outlook from above. Elsewhere, vertical timber cladding, upgraded insulation, new windows and roof-mounted solar panels will complete the home’s transformation into a comfortable, energy-efficient family house rooted in its mid-century origins.