MYRTLE COTTAGE

NEW ENTRANCE RECEPTION Myrtle Cottage sits within the defined Old Netley, just outside Southampton, which to date has contained small dwellings with little overall development. This is rapidly changing due to the housing development towards the North East of Cranbury gardens. Green Lane itself to is a cul-de-sac so its very nature is a quiet neighborhood. Studio B.a.d where commissioned to undertake a feasibility study and planning application to take a radical review of the ground entrance and reception area. The design strategy has been to create a very simple and sympathetic addition to the existing house and context. Something that is of high quality and sits smaller in scale to the existing Victorian property. The form, material and detailed composition of the extension is a response to the local vernacular and with an overriding view to keep this new piece much smaller in height. The new addition places great importance on the quality of space and light within the new spaces, allowing for much greater open plan space and natural daylight, to flood deep into the plan of the existing house. The proposal also seeks to open up existing parts of the plan, with an opportunity to view right through the house and into the rear garden. The concept has been conceived around social interaction, so that everyone within the family, regardless of the tasks, reading, writing, cooking or viewing, can in theory both view and communicate with one another regardless of where they are within the ground floor. The new extension has been carefully positioned on the site to minimize disruption to access to the rear garden and impinging on the front driveway. Improved landscaping and planting between both the existing boundary fence and parking area, the proposed landscaping will also aid visual screening and improve residents amenity. Materials have been selected to reference (but not replicate) those found locally and will be hard wearing but also textured, possessing a feeling of quality.