A house extension gives shelter to trees that felled in order to allow its construction – Is there something more inspirational and poetic than this? In Kagawa, Japan a two-story extension occupies the garden of a 35-year-old family house, serving as a home for the owner’s daughter. The two trees were positioned in the only available spot for the new construction, which lead to an unusual yet brilliant solution: the trees were dried up to become a living part of the interior of the house extension. That’s why the name of the building is so enigmatic: Garden Tree House. Continue reading →

Here’s a fine example of how to transform a classic English Victorian semi-detached villa into a contemporary home. Located in London, Lens House is a 19th century building that has been extended in time and space: two new volumes were added to this ancient architecture as a manifest of modern needs.

The new house extension has a total floor area of only 70sqm and is distributed in two separate levels. The first volume wraps around the brick walls at the side and rear of the house to make a small home office, while the second volume extends out at the back to increase the size of the first floor living room. Continue reading →

Contemporary architecture has an important role when it comes to balancing the old with the new…In the following project, old means an ancient brick house with an impressive water mill, while new stands for an exceptional wooden house extension. Continue reading →

A house extension with butterfly wings…Isn’t this something truly innovative and fresh? In Berkeley, California there’s a prefab building that captures the essence of two related worlds: an existing 1950’s house and its unique surrounding environment. In order to preserve the existing atmosphere designed by a popular landscape architect some cautions were taken as guidelines for the new house extension: two new structures and a recast landscape, all balanced with the original residence. Continue reading →

Can a book play a vital part in the design of a modern house extension? The answer is positively yes! and to demonstrate such a remarkable capacity there’s an undeniable tiny statement called Book Tower House Extension in London, UK. The client’s need for storing a large book collection determined the conceptual approach given to this special home extension. In a very pragmatic and poetic solution, walls of books fold around a wooden staircase where a small study area allows a comfortable use of this unique domestic library. A little pearl is now available for all inhabitants to enjoy… Continue reading →

In North Holland there’s a triangular brick house that’s been extended into a new spatial order… A delicate border was conceived between two different bodies: a modern, single-story concrete extension is now connected to the rear of a 1930s residence offering a total floor area of 210sqm. The ancient brickwork is now reinforced by the presence of a silent new material: exposed concrete. In order to fit harmoniously within the pitched roof of the existing volume, this exquisite house extension presents a special facade design that is slightly more tapered on one side to attain an asymmetric shape. Continue reading →

Located in the former stable access between two properties, the Slim House Extension is the cure for the inhabitants of a narrow and deep house in London – only 2.3 meters wide! The presence of natural light was almost zero due a lack of outward-facing walls. In order to resolve this basic problem a special extension was designed: a sloping roof punctuated with skylights to let natural light enter rooms on each story. This new house addition allows space for a new ground floor dining area, an extra bedroom on the first floor and a study on the second floor. Suddenly, all seems to be fresh and new… free from the darkness and tightness of the previous house configuration. Continue reading →

To preserve the secret intimacy of a Victorian house garden – This was the main purpose behind the project that I’m about to show you. In London, UK a discrete house extension was developed in order to create a sense of unity between the exterior garden and the original house. Continue reading →

On the south coast of Ireland, where geological values are predominant and characteristic, a special house extension makes the best of its surrounding nature. House at Goleen is composed of four mono-pitched extensions to an existent rural house with total of 300sqm of constructed area. Continue reading →

The most ambitious challenges in architecture always capture our heart and soul…In Switzerland a unique conversion demonstrates great respect for the existing vernacular architecture and great sensitivity to its rural settings, preserving the authenticity and exclusive spirit of the site.

To achieve such an honorable task, an ingenious design was carefully developed in order to obtain a certain aspect of invisibility… How? Let’s enter the village of Lesponne – in the mountainous region of the Hautes-Pyrenees – to examine an outstanding new extension of an old barn. Continue reading →