ProjectMeadow Road
LocationTunbridge Wells
ClientPrivate
StatusIn construction
Old meets new in this deep retrofit and total renovation of a Victorian villa in Tunbridge Wells
The total renovation at Meadow Road began with the very practical objectives of remodelling the house to better suit a young family, and upgrading the environmental performance of the existing building. The house hadn’t been touched in years and was drafty, cold and damp.
However the shared vision of both architect and client has created a home that doesn’t just meet these practical aims, but celebrates the best of features old and new, sensitively creating a new design language for the home.
Improving the layout
The clients were looking for a remodel of the existing space, and a double storey extension to bring light and space into the rear of the home.
We created a unique new ‘back of house’ extension using U-Build modular timber construction blocks, with a brand new side entrance, utility room, and storage space. The new functional spaces make life easier for the family with small children, while opening up the rest of the house to be larger, more playful, and feel less cluttered.
An impressive new triple height atrium space forms the heart of the home, where the original front door and entrance connect effortlessly to the new U-Build extension. New rooflights flood light into the space, offering a sense of arrival and brightness, while the thoughtful layout allows privacy while maintaining connection to all the spaces.
Confident, playful interiors
The old and new aspects of the home weave together with ease, with a confident design approach that reveals original features while celebrating new materials and processes in the U-Build extension.
Rather than forcing the distinct old and new styles together, they are presented as complementary. The soft, warm colour palette selected by the client suits the original features, while sitting gently against the Spruce plywood extension.
Good design is celebrated, with restored original Victorian features and characteristic furniture styles, alongside the modern U-Build structure that achieves warmth, brightness and practicality. These confident design decisions make space for playfulness, with the kids bedrooms located in the U-Build extension, which they describe as ‘feeling like a treehouse’.
Environmental performance and retrofit
The house hadn’t been touched for some years, and was drafty, cold and damp. Comfort and environmental efficiency were achieved through a deep retrofit. The walls were insulated internally and externally, incorporating MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery), underfloor heating, and an air source heat pump.
The clients have seen a dramatic decrease in their energy bills, and enjoy peace and quiet inside the house despite it sitting next to a busy road. Where the heating would have struggled to heat the space before it now feels cosy and warm.
