Transformed rural farm workers cottage

When Adam Knibb Architects were approached about extending and completely refurbishing a 1950s farm workers cottage in rural Hampshire, their challenge was more than just the design, they had a series of very restrictive planning restraints to deal with because of the countryside location.

The brief from the client was to create contemporary, open spaces that maximised the available natural light, but achieving this with the cottage restricted to just a 25% increase because it fell under 120spm in size proved problematic. The innovative solution was to complete the planning in two stages. The first ground floor extension took the property over that threshold, enabling the side return and second storey to be added to the project.

The finished project is a testament to innovative design and thinking. The ground floor is now almost completely open-plan, finished off with a large 5-panel set of IDSystems supplied and installed Grand Slider II doors that offer a stunning view over the garden and the woodlands beyond.

At first floor level, the new master bedroom added as part of the side return extension and clad in timber to mimic the neighbouring woodland, includes a second Grand Slider II at the rear, this time as a window. At the front of the house, the aluminium windows in the extension provide views of mile upon miles of unspoilt farmland and countryside.

The finished project more than doubles the available living space and completely transformed the small, dark, box-like rooms into light-filled areas that are connected to the outside by the large glazing panels.

Products used