Finding space in an existing plan
Highfield, 2024
An inefficient plan has been rearranged to provide much needed space
A new staircase provides room for this charming suburban villa to breathe. Ultimately delivering a house fit for a growing family.
Adding sensibly
Located on a cul-de-sac in a peaceful Hampshire village, Highfield was in the perfect location for our client, the brief was to transform the house into a ‘forever’ family home.
Piecemeal development had led to a constrained and wasteful plan which did not provide the spaces and atmosphere desired. Through careful intervention Residence has transformed the property to allow for generous shared living spaces whilst retaining functionality and character on a tight budget.
Resolving existing space
The key to unlocking the plan at Highfield was to rearrange the staircase which sat uncomfortably in the heart of the house restricting the function of the rooms around it.
By providing a bespoke staircase in an enlarged hallway the staircase the house gains a unique feature that supports the families lifestyle without breaking the back.
The language of the stair is simple and contemporary providing a character which is of its time but fits the post war property; Formed from affordable, robust materials the stair will stand the test of time. The larger hallway provides a welcoming enclosure alongside effective space for coat and bag storage.
Adapting the staircase in this manner had the added benefit of allowing for a more spacious family bathroom at first floor level, an essential requirement for this young family.
Materiality and Colour
Structural Interventions are identified in a distinctive rich fern green, which has been applied to other original features such as the central arched opening in the hallway to tie the individual spaces together.
Timber as found in the original house has been used extensively but updated to a more contemporary palate whilst a modest extension is punctuated by large sliding doors, again detailed in rich green, which provide light and views into the leafy garden.
