Haydown House - Kent
Location
Great Buckland, Kent
Overview
The project involved the reconfiguration and refurbishment of a previously unmodernized two-story detached house in Kent. The main objective was to transform the visually unappealing dwelling, which had undergone piecemeal extensions over the years, into a functional and visually cohesive family home in an area of outstanding natural beauty. To achieve this, the proposal focused on refurbishing the existing envelope of the house. A unified and aesthetically pleasing volume was created by implementing a single rainscreen wood cladding system. This approach not only enhanced the overall appearance of the house but also provided a consistent design element throughout.
On the east elevation, a new sedum roof was introduced, adding 65 sqm of green areas that seamlessly blended with the surrounding landscape. The strategic placement of the green roof between the house and the hills created a harmonious integration with the natural environment, effectively camouflaging the house and preserving a continuous green landscape.
The design also involved reconfiguring the ground floor layout. A dilapidated conservatory structure and a portion of an additional kitchen and bedroom on the south elevation were demolished to establish a more unified appearance for the building. This alteration resulted in a spacious open kitchen-living room area with a vaulted ceiling and exposed beams, seamlessly blending with the old internal house aesthetics on the north elevation.
In the northern part of the house, the stair enclosure was enlarged to create a void, allowing natural light to illuminate the ground floor. This modification also provided additional insulation and improved the existing wooden staircase. Mismatched windows were replaced and reconfigured to enhance the living conditions, ensuring a more comfortable and visually appealing interior space. Overall, the reconfiguration and refurbishment project successfully transformed the previously disjointed dwelling into a functional and visually cohesive family home, respecting the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
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