Bookends

Hayes & Partners prepared working drawings and submitted a Building Regulations package for approved extensions at Bookends, designed by Vicky Thornton.

The house started life as a 1930s bungalow, purchased by the architect’s parents to provide an accessible home for their retirement. The existing bungalow, simple in form but short of accommodation, is extended to each side with striking black box-like forms – to the west to provide a bedroom, accessible bathroom and study and to the east to accommodate the kitchen, dining area and conservatory. The roof void is also converted to a further bedroom and bathroom accessed via a new stair enclosed by a third black timber projecting structure.

The extensions are clad in black painted larch as a strong contrast to the existing white rendered building, referencing both the half-timbered houses in the area as well as the black fishermans huts in the neighbouring town of Hastings. A green roof and air source heat pump, in addition to the retention of the existing building make this project highly sustainable.

The rear of the house is clad in both the black painted timber for the extensions and a pale grey cement board to the dormer windows, sharply detailed to distinguish the additions from the existing building.

Windows are punched into the extensions to frame views of the surrounding countryside – slot windows to limit views to the neighbouring properties and more generous openings providing views to the front and rear garden.