Hartwith Green

With a new baby and a fussy pet parrot, the owners of this house near Harrogate were in desperate need of more space and a layout suitable for modern family living. Our proposal consists of a new linear extension to the rear of the dwelling to create a large family kitchen, snug and utility/parrot room. Better connections are established with the large sloping garden via a series of stepped terraces and new doors and windows which also maximise the outstanding views over Yorkshire’s Nidderdale Valley.

A rhythmic internal language manifests itself in an exposed double joisted timber frame to the new extension, while a glazed spine floods the interior with light. The whole structure is placed upon a concrete plinth, which nestles into the slope and which is expressed in the finished floors, fireplace, terraces and front entrance steps. An exterior material palette of charred larch and pre-patinated zinc is designed to be subservient yet complementary to the weathered hues of the existing dressed local stone elevations.