Space & value

by Rebecca Foster

Two glass volumes were added to the side of this house in North London to make the most of the southerly light on this elevation. The glazed volumes have been incorporated to continue the existing stepped footprint of the property. Design work was carried out by Syte Architects.

IMAGE: SYTE ARCHITECTS, PHOTOGRAPHER JAMES MORRIS

PART 7: Side Extensions

• Structural know-how 

• Design ideas

• Planning & Regs

• Glazing and roof heights

Extending to the side of your house is a smart way to boost living space. Taking this route offers the chance to add width to your home’s floorplan, without necessarily eating into precious garden space at the back. Of course, depending on the existing property, the space available, and your budget, there’s a plethora of design options. From fully glazed side-return additions to striking two-storey structures, there’s plenty of ways to make the most of your plot’s width. Here, we lay out what you need to know, from planning essentials to access and structural considerations.

DESIGN KNOW-HOW

It’s important to formulate a design that works just as well on the inside as it does from the outside — and that doesn’t necessarily mean developing a plan that allows the new structure to blend seamlessly with the original house. “Most buildings were never designed to have side extensions; they were built for their size and purpose at the time,” says Leith Mckenzie, director and co-founder of Alter & Company. “Therefore, it’s not always the best approach to just make the building look bigger with a side extension, as if the new structure is an existing part of the house.”

Spend time planning the extension’s material finishes, proportions and roof shape to ensure it complements the existing house. While it’s sensible to take design cues from the original building to create a holistic appeal across the whole property, it might be that you create an extension that’s completely distinct in style, allowing you to tell the difference between old and new at a glance.

“Extensions often require different proportions due to planning constraints and use different methods to channel light deep into the floorplan. This can inevitably result in a different character across the spaces,” says John Proctor, a director at Proctor & Shaw Architects. “However, the devil is in the detail. Incorporating matching finishes or complementary colours that flow throughout can prevent a space from feeling alien.”