We have refurbished and extended an old Victorian hayloft in Leighton Buzzard. The property was converted into a dwelling in the late 1980’s but unfortunately the conversion was not sympathetic and poorly utilised the existing structure. We were able to expose and enhance existing elements lost in the previous conversion, reconfigure the internal layout and add a home extension at the rear of the property.

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Complementary Material Palette

The front elevation rationalises the elements at ground floor - allowing for the garage door, covered porch and front door in one expressed opening.

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There was strength in allocating the materials in a rational way. In this sense, the concept is that the metal cladding acts as an in-fill for the arches and the timber cladding is for new elements (front and rear entrance and extension).

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Appropriate Additions and Alterations

At the rear, a new crisp contemporary extension ties in with the existing house and helps provide a generous living space. The timber cladding is utilised here too, delineating between old and new.

On the side elevation (west) the brick in-fill is replaced with metal panels to express the original arched structure. The windows are rationalised and made to match each other.

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Efficient Internal Reconfigurations

The ground floor re-orientates the entrance to the street and consolidates the service areas, creating more generous living spaces to the rear. The first floor remains much the same, with a tweaked hallway allowing a lightwell down to the ground floor.

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Photographer credit: Matthew Smith Photography