Jake House was formally an unremarkable, 4 bedroom 1970’s property. Our brief was to create an open plan family area to the rear of the home that immediately addressed the garden which had always felt divorced from the house. To achieve this we relocated the kitchen from the front to the rear and this created space at the front of the property for a second reception/snug room. A full width extension at ground floor plays with floor levels internally, to create high ceilings, defining the kitchen, living, dining, and utility as well as creating ample storage spaces and show-stopping large format sliding doors across the rear elevation make the most of the level threshold. A simple rendered frame, articulated with a slight angle provides a canopy that addresses the morning sun path to the east and defines the ground floor extension. At first floor, a master bedroom suite has been designed, extending the building to both the side and rear. The internal aesthetic is minimal, and as at ground floor seeks to frame views as is evident from the large picture window at the head of the room seen immediately when entering the space. Externally, we looked to visually treat the first floor differently and clad this vertically in pre-treated western red cedar, as well as part of the flank wall at ground floor maintaining a relationship between the two floors. Find out more about this project on our website https://www.rhjbarchitects.com/portfolio-item/jake_house/