The Garden House
Ipswich, Suffolk

Scope: Assisted Self build

Client: Mr & Mrs Green

Value: Undisclosed

Formerly a day nursery, the property had been enlarged in a series of extensions resulting in a linear but ramshackle plan. The key drivers of the project were to unify the whole (giving it a contemporary expression) and improve energy efficiency. Our approach looked to maintain as many primary walls as possible and to capitalise on a small number of significant alterations. The ground floor layout evolved as a principal open plan dining and living area and low pitched roofs to the front, flank and rear were replaced by flat sedum roofs. Walls were externally insulated and finished in timber and smooth render to simplify massing and create a contemporary wrap around appearance. All thermal elements were upgraded and existing windows replaced with high performance units.