Bush Avenue, Bristol

The existing house at Bush Avenue is a 1950s semi-detached property which which required extension and alteration to support a growing family and the way they might live in years to come. The building previously had a small extension to the rear but the living spaces remain somewhat small, separated from each other. The house also has significant areas of south facing glazing which causes overheating in some of the smaller rooms in summer.

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Working collaboratively

The design for this project was undertaken entirely in lockdown during the Covid 19 pandemic, where government restrictions required us to experiment with new ways of designing remotely with my clients.   A 3D digital model of the existing house and proposed design was created and the model was shared with the client using free software called Autodesk Viewer. This allowed them to see and walk around their house, and review all aspects of the design as it develops. We touched base regularly with virtual design meetings over Zoom, to discuss possible changes to reach a position where they were completely happy with the design. At this point we we were ready to extract planning drawings: floor-plans, sections and elevations which were submitted with a planning application to the council.

The Final Design

The final scheme provided a large open plan kitchen-dining room which gave a much improved connection between the house and large garden which extends to the rear of the site. We also accommodated new utility spaces on the ground floor where a single storey garage could be accessed from both the front of the house, but also from both the rear garden and kitchen utility giving greater flexibility for future use. A large new bedroom and two bathrooms were provided at first floor. During the lockdown, the client decided to adapt the brief slightly and chose to plan for a new home office, as it becomes more likely that this is an essential requirement for homes in the future.