CONTACTS/ SUPPLIERS
ARCHITECT Pend Architects
pendarchitects.com
INTERIORS/FURNISHINGS Catalog Interiors
cataloginteriors.com
KITCHEN Archispek
Archispek.com
LIGHTING DESIGN Pend Architects
pendarchitects.com
MAIN CONTRACTOR Rollo Developments
rollodevelopments.com
the couple’s two children, Rosie (four) and Annie (two). Both the playroom and utility are accessed by pocket doors to emphasise the open plan design and provide practical solutions for storage and access. The plans from Pend also included the removal of the offshoot extension in the middle of the patio, thus establishing a new connection with the garden accessed by fl oor to ceiling sliding doors leading to a sunken patio, raised fl ower bed and varied ground levels to the end of the site. “The offshoot extension interrupted the connection with the garden and as the site is on an elevated position on Corstorphine Hill, surrounded by greenery and views, I wanted to make the most of the blue skies when they’re available!” This elevated position, while enviable for the views, also ensured that Ben had to create a design that took into account two sets of neighbours, their privacy and their sunlight. He did this by simple geometry, creating two pitched volumes in the roof that slide and intersect and which had a twofold effect. On the one hand, this design protected the neighbours’ privacy and light and on the other created an internal variation in volumes in the open plan space. “We like to ensure that our clients don’t need to have tricky conversations with their neighbours about planning permissions,” Ben explains. “There’s no point us designing and building a fantastic extension if you’ve annoyed the neighbours and have to live next to them for the next fi ve years This foresight worked and planning permission was granted with no objections. Contractors Rollo Developments were suggested by Pend to carry out the project and work commenced in March 2023 with a completion date of December 2023.
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“It became clear from the outset that we wouldn’t be able to live in the house while the building work was going on,” Sam remembers. This was due in no small part to the fact that there is no access to the rear of the property; therefore, every piece of machinery and all the materials had to be transported through the house and also, there was simply no space for the family to live. “I’m still shocked that Rollo managed to get a digger through the house!” Jane continues: “The builders said there may be some damage, but there was none; they were incredibly careful and much of the house was boarded up for protection.”
The building process went relatively smoothly
apart from one hiccup. Although Pend thought they had dealt with the issue of the sewer and designed around it, it wasn’t to be. “When we’re dealing with historic drainage records, they are usually pencil sketches from 100 years ago and they’re not always 100% accurate,” says Ben. Fortunately, the alterations required were approximately half a foot and didn’t hold things up for long. “There were a few other small discoveries, as there always are with older buildings,” Ben adds. “In this case, we discovered the timbers under the original kitchen had rotted, so the new fl oor was extended into the old part along with the insulation and the underfl oor heating. While Jane and Sam had been unsure about how the actual extension would take shape, they knew the aesthetics and fi nishing touches were important to them and this part of the design process was much more collaborative. As a result, the inspiration for the materials palette was drawn in the main from the original exterior at the back of the property, as Ben explains: “Sam and Jane showed us some images that they liked and we
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