HOME + GARDEN
THE COTTAGE by Hollaway Studio CONT .
What was your biggest surprise ?
I love watching the surprise on the faces of people who haven ’ t been to the house before , at the front of the houses it looks like a small English cottage , but the house soon reveals itself and opens itself up to the rear with a large contemporary glazed extension , it is a house of two halves and full of surprises .
What are you most proud of ?
I am most proud of how well the house works , how we ’ ve managed to transform an old cottage into a modern house without losing its existing character . Both old and new have come together and complement each other . We built an outbuilding and during lockdown the girls were able to use either side to study , this gave them their own space which was separate from the main house . The swimming pool is a polished concrete lap pool with a glass end , it was positioned at a discreet position in the garden so it doesn ’ t dominate and has proven a real hit with friends and family .
What are your hints and tips for those looking to self-build a new or second home or embark on an extension project ?
Choose your architect carefully , do lots of research and choose one which you think is most aligned with your thinking . Choose a builder you feel you can trust , that can demonstrate they can deliver and make the time to speak to their past clients , they are only as good as their last job . Spend time with your design , try and visualise your life living within the design and try to project yourself in the house in five / ten years ’ time . Will the design adapt to your changing needs ? Do you have enough storage solutions ? More time spent at the critical design stage will save time and cost later , it will limit the amount of mistakes , so be sure to keep asking questions and challenging the design .
What ’ s next ? Having completed our own home , I am able to concentrate fully on the practice and future design projects . I feel better equipped to design clients ' housing having had the benefit of building my own home .
01303 260 515 architects @ hollawaystudio . co . uk
The Tramway Stables Rampart Road Hythe CT21 5BG
10a Acton Street London WC1X 9NG
www . hollawaystudio . co . uk HollawayStudio
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