Set within the leafy area of The Grange in South Edinburgh, the client’s brief highlighted their desire for a better connection to the Southwest facing rear garden along with conversion of a large attic space to create additional bedroom / playroom / study spaces. An existing conservatory built in the 1980’s acted as a barrier between the house and garden and was seldom used, being too hot in summer and too cold in winter. The architectural approach sought not to further extend the footprint of the house, and instead reconfigure and upgrade the existing to be more suitable to family life in the 21st Century.

Structural alterations to form large openings between the existing dining room, family room and conservatory creates one open plan space that runs full width at the rear of the house. By removing the existing conservatory and rebuilding a contemporary garden room with full width sliding folding glass doors, connection to the garden is enhanced. The garden room extension is built on the same footprint as the conservatory to reuse the existing concrete slab, low level stone walls and below ground substructure providing an economical and sustainable design response. The walls and flat roof are insulated beyond current building regulations to provide enhanced thermal performance and year-round comfortable usability of the space. The vertical zinc cladding aims to achieve a contemporary aesthetic which compliments the sandstone of the existing house.

A new stair within the historic cupola forms an impressive access up to the attic conversion. Two flexible rooms have been designed which can be used as bedrooms, playrooms, or study spaces as family life changes over time. A separate shower room has also been included within the attic conversion.

The ground floor internal alterations and extension are now complete with the attic conversion still under construction.