We designed and delivered this bold contemporary extension to a 17th century cottage in the London suburbs, creating a light filled and spacious family home. The Grade II listed cottage had several poor-quality extensions and complicated level changes. Our approach was to understand how the property had developed over time and strip back the poorer elements, to create a new heart for the home centred around the houses working Water Well. Utilising curved and linear planes of glass to sub-divide the large space into open plan kitchen diner, library and our take on a contemporary orangery. We used a simple palette of materials that were designed to develop patina and blend with the rich texture of the existing materials allowing a harmonious connection between the old and the new.