Millness

The two existing properties were quite different in their form and their respective ground floor levels, the cottage ground floor being 0.3 m lower than the upper floor of the annexe. The alignment of the buildings was also different.

The new accommodation to be provided was a main entrance, a cloakroom, a utility and drying room, an open plan breakfast kitchen, a dining room, a living room with wood-burning stove and discreet circulation to link the buildings.

A sustainable services approach was required. The existing properties had solar p.v. panels and a private water supply. To these were added solar water heating and a ground source heat pump to provide underfloor heating both to the new extension and to the ground floor of the cottage, which required remedial work in any case.

The building solution arrived at was to give each main space of living room, dining room and breakfast kitchen/utility its own distinct character externally but to make them open plan internally. Each volume can be understood as a separate entity yet flows into the adjacent one. Variations of floor level emphasise the differences but similarity of details and finishes unifies them.