ETC

????

I I really do believe that most people wouldn’t know an architect from a hole in the hedge.

@CharlieKLP It may be that the consumer is duped into hiring someone they thought was an architect but turns out to be no more than a plan tracer who isn’t able to design. The public need to be made aware of the difference and that good design should not cost any more. I think that the average consumer sees the initial cost of appointing a registered architect and would rather go to a cheap plan drawer and spend the fee difference on a nice big TV. If you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

Take off the scale bar.

That’s why I joined up - to help where I can - strictly pro bono.

@Iceverge Contrary to @ETC would be keen to retain a similar style in this example. A bolt on contemporary extension would feel like my granny wearing bling trainers, but that's just my taste I suppose. However I do think there's a good market for architects presenting balanced functional non flashy design. Plenty of great examples out there where a good imagination has enabled an old building to be extended with a contemporary extension. Is there anything wrong with your granny wearing bling trainers? https://thecoolhunter.net/old-is-new-again/ https://www.wowhaus.co.uk/2014/09/21/on-the-market-award-winning-19th-century-martello-tower-conversion-in-bawdsey-suffolk/ Personally I think you're very close with the downstairs at least. On reflection the utility and W/C are better off as per your suggestion. Not even a million miles close. If I’ve ever seen a bolt on job this is it. Bland and unimaginative.

I’m afraid that I do not like this design. I think the floor plan is quite restrictive and the elevations are over fussy with detailing that will be difficult to do and expensive to build. It looks quaint but the rooms could turn out quite tight. You rightly said that you’d like built in furniture rather than loose furniture and I don’t think this should be difficult to achieve. I think you might be best suited with something a bit more contemporary and simple to build. I don’t see why - with a little imagination - you couldn’t get the number of bedrooms you would like to have. If you like the barrel roof - use a barrel roof over the whole house - it’s quite agricultural and visually appealing but expensive to build and if not detailed correctly could be noisy.

Everything - including how it’s drafted up. Did you click the link?

If these were prepared by an Architect I’m a monkey’s uncle - terrible - ask for your money back! Click the link below! https://architects-register.org.uk

@jayc89 I’ve been reading this post for a while with some interest. I’m really not surprised you got knocked back by the Planners - this house and extension is a monster. I think you need to look at the overall massing of the house with the extension - the overall impression really is massive and you should look at physically and visually separating the original house and the new extension. Look at retaining the original structure and adding on a sympathetic extension rather than just filling the width of the house with something as overpowering as you are currently proposing. The original building looks quite wonderful and I’d go as far as saying that you really should consider taking the building back to it’s original form and then adding a contemporary extension - something that’s not a pastiche and without that dreadful 45 degree corner cut-off which makes absolutely no sense and will only add additional and unnecessary expense. I really think you have a fantastic opportunity to do something quite wonderful with this building - I don’t think the current proposal is it though. Sorry for being harsh but I think your designers should rethink their proposal.

@Indy @CharlieKLP

@Indy, @CharlieKLP Roof Plan.

@Indy@CharlieKLP Ground and first floor alternative plans. Line drawing so not totally sure it will fit into the site. Have kept 2m from one boundary and 1.0m from the other. No glazing on 1.0m side boundary. Flat roof to centopart with 3no. large roof lights to bring light deep into the stairwell and family bathroom. Concept only. All copyright ETC.

@LnPand a completely modern version.

@LnP

@LnP

@LnP

@LnP

Absolutely agree. Contrived and ugly.

Balconies - Absolute waste of time. Never used in this climate.

@IndyI really can’t believe that anyone spending over £1m on a home wouldn’t hire the best architect he/she could find to design a dream house. If I had that amount of money to spend on a build I’d be looking to appoint the best architects out there rather than try and get the cheapest plans drawn by the local plan drawerer. if you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

Very much looking forward to seeing them.

@IndyWith a little bit of imagination you can bring light deep into any floor plan.

@IndyI’m afraid I haven’t had time to read all the posts but I have had a very quick look at your drawings. I really think your architect (if he/she really is an architect) could have done so much more with the plan form and the elevations which I think are contrived and over-bearing. The massing of the dwelling is quite over-powering - especially the side elevations and the creation of the gables to the front for aesthetic reasons appear contrived. I’m afraid I’m not convinced by the porch - it really looks out of scale and will be a nightmare to clean and heat or cool. I’m afraid it reminds me of post-modernist commercial architecture. I think you’ll end up with quite dark areas in some of the rooms and if your boundaries are close you may find that you will have to limit the amount of glazing to the side elevations - especially the Snug and ground floor living room. I am by no means advocating the use of any of the ideas that I proposed but I think your need to create a symmetrical front elevation is severely restricting what you can do with your plot and creating a house which will be appear over-powering, cramped and dark. Sorry - I’m not a fan. ETC.