The project consisted of two existing houses on a site within the Kent Town Conservation Area in East Molesey which have been combined to create a single home together with the addition of a modern rear extension opening onto the large rear garden. The main house was built around 1865 and is a grand house built in the Georgian style. The second house was an annex built circa 1973 which consists of a triple garage with a self contained three bedroom house behind and over it. At the same time a double storey kitchen extension was added to the rear of the main building. A conservatory was later added around 1983. The two houses functioned separately, although under the same ownership, and the annex had its own small garden off the rear. The site is large with a number of established trees to the front and along the boundary especially toward the rear of the site which had to be considered in the extensions. The main part of the garden is to the south and was rather haphazardly laid out with a number of different zones. Our client acquired the site and wanted to combine the two houses to create a single home. We wanted to use this opportunity to reinstate the historic grandeur and symmetry of the original building while at the same time creating a modern living space which flows easily onto the garden. After careful consideration, it was felt that the best way to achieve this was to demolish the relatively recent kitchen extension and conservatory and connect the two parts with a modern light and glassy modern take on the conservatory. This is where the kitchen is situated with the space leading onto an informal dining area and then onto the living area beyond. We wanted to create a light, open and modern space with large sliding doors, which open up onto a sunken garden to create a flowing series of spaces. The lower ground floor was badly planned and awkwardly accessed without any real connection to the rear garden. We decided to lower the floor by approximately 0.5m. This was achieved without the need to underpin the foundations. We were able to reinstate it as part of the main house while at the same time creating a lovely large formal dining room leading off the newly added rear extension, allowing a flow of space through the informal seating area onto sunken courtyard and garden beyond. There was also plenty of space for a wine cellar, gym and media room. By keeping the new addition at the lower level, it is intended that it will minimise the impact of the extension when viewed from the garden and at the same time create a flexible and open living space without compromising the privacy of the space or the neighbours. It will also allow for the reinstatement of the large french doors at upper ground floor level to look out over the garden which the applicant is looking to layout in a more formal manner. The new extension will be light and reflective when viewed from the garden with some elements of matching facing brick to screen the neighbouring properties. It is intended that it will have a flat lead roof with skylights to be in keeping with the character of the main house when viewed from above and on to the garden. The front of the house will remain unchanged, barring the introduction of a new conservation type skylight in the roof to mirror an existing skylight so that the view from the street will remain largely unaltered. The carefully considered changes to the existing building ensure that the impact is a positive one. We feel that this is the most appropriate way to not only combine the two buildings in a meaningful way and to allow for the modern open plan living enjoyed by the applicant but also to respect and enhance the historic character of the main house. Planning approval was achieved within the prescribed time and with very little fuss. We prepared a full set of Building Regulation drawings and the building work is well underway.