The Artist’s House is a private extension and renovation project, completed in Autumn 2021 by award winning, Winchester based Architects AR Design Studio. This addition, located in the heart of Winchester’s Conservation Area, sought to remove a series of previous small extensions and a conservatory. In their place would be a single space that would reconnect the various components of the house and open it up to its garden.

This Grade II listed house, dating from the 18th Century, was in use as a public house until 1903. Since then, various piecemeal additions over time have masked much of the original rear elevation of the house. Through rigorous consultations with the council and their conservation officers, a design approach was developed that would strip back much of the clutter, with a new lightweight addition taking its place.

Key to this was pulling the extension away from the original rear wall of the house. A full width rooflight is used in order to bridge the gap between the two with a light connection, allowing natural light to highlight the wall and ensure that a clear distinction is made between the new and old. An elegant roof connects the different wings of the house, enclosing the new kitchen and dining spaces below. Full height glazing opens this space out onto a new patio and the garden beyond.

The material palette used is deliberately muted to draw attention to the fabric of the original listed components of the house. Timber is used alongside aluminium fascia’s and a light grey tile to soften its appearance. This is carried between the interior and exterior spaces, keeping the number of materials to a minimum and allowing a seamless transition between the two. The original red brick and stone walls have had several past layers of paint removed to restore the appearance of the full two storey wall and enable it to form the backdrop of the extension.

This carefully considered addition has breathed new life into this historic home. It reconnects previously disjointed elements of the house and its garden, providing a new space for modern living while respecting and enhancing its heritage.

Scheme: Extension and Refurbishment

Location: Hampshire

Commencement: September 2020

Completion: August 2021

Kitchen: The Myers Touch, www.themyerstouch.co.uk

Photographer: Martin Gardner, www.martingardner.com

The Artist's House