THE BLACK HOUSE
RIBA Stages 0-7
The Black House is an extension to an old traditional Welsh stone house built circa 1870. The old cottage (white render) wasn’t sufficient in size for a modern home and so the clients wanted to extend out in order to provide additional living and bedroom accommodation. Due to land restrictions and the position of an existing electricity pole, the solution was to turn the extension 90 degrees forming an ‘L’ shaped plan.
The floor plan of the new extension was also flipped over, putting a new master bedroom on the ground floor, and new large windows provide stunning views from the first floor living room out over the surrounding countryside. Refurbishment and reconfiguration of the old cottage also took place to provide better guest bedrooms and a larger family bathroom.
The design solution proposed aimed to provide a contemporary contrast to the old cottage, respecting its massing, height, form and complimenting the existing material palette. A delicate glass link unites the two buildings as well as giving a visual through route and vista from the front cottage garden to the larger rear gardens and fields.
The main material used on the extension is burnt larch cladding (providing the buildings signature black appearance). This material and burning technique, also known as Shou Sugi Ban, makes the wood fire retardant, rot resistant and waterproof with minimal future maintenance required.
A signature orange / yellow hue is employed to accent the aluminium powder coated window frames and the colour is reminiscent of the gorse flowers that surround the adjacent countryside.
Work in progress
The Gallery
Images
Unit3 are an award winning multi-disciplinary design studio based in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. We work across three design sectors (architecture, graphic design and creative media) and help clients across the UK and internationally achieve great designs.
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