TOP TIPS DESIGNING YOUR LISTED BUILDING EXTENSION

Does my extension design have to match the style of the existing house?

Not necessarily. It’s important that the history of the building can be read, showing the various changes and additions over time. A heritage architect understands how scale and materials can look in keeping within the context of a modern design.

Can I build a double-storey addition? Sometimes. The key is the significance of the heritage asset and making sure the design of your extension isn’t detrimental to that.

What materials might I be asked to use?

If the goal is to design an extension that’s identifiably separate from the original house, then contrasting or contemporary materials are likely to be acceptable. Otherwise, you may need to research and use original methods and materials. Lime plaster is traditional, for instance, but just as appealing now. Old bricks can be different dimensions, so matching size but not colour could be a respectful way to blend with the old.

What type of original architectural features might need protecting?

The design approach should identify any important elements, such as chimneys, steeply pitched roofs, doors and windows. The building’s contribution to a wider setting as part of the street scene is crucial, too: perhaps it’s one of a collection of similar gable-ended houses, or within the locale of a more significant building that demands protection in your scheme.

What design solutions can help?

An extension should be in scale and proportion to the listed house, considering details like eaves lines and plinths, for example. Glazed links are a way of transitioning from the original to the new, as are fully glazed extensions – the transparency allows the original materials to show through.