Hampshire House
ONE STOREY REAR EXTENSION WITH GARAGE CONVERSION
Location:
Hampshire, South-East England
Internal area:
303m² (35m² Increase)
Description:
Internal reconfiguration of single storey rear extension and garage conversion.
Sensitive extension and reconfiguration of a listed home in a conservation area.
A modest rear extension crowned with a bronze canopy transforms this riverside home in Hampshire, enhancing its connection to the surrounding landscape while responding with care to its Grade II-listed status.
Located within a conservation area, the property was originally built in the late 1800s as a single-storey stable before being converted into a two-storey dwelling in the 1970s. Over time, a lean-to garage and rear extension had compromised both layout and flow. The latest works reimagine the home for a young family of five, creating a more functional plan with generous storage, adaptable living spaces, and a stronger relationship to the outdoors.
The original internal arrangement included a narrow gallery kitchen, a small pantry, and a separate dining space tucked into a bay window. Circulation was awkward, particularly in the entrance hall which lacked both natural light and storage.
The reconfigured ground floor centres on a new social core. A kitchen, dining, and snug area now open out toward the garden and river, with large sliding doors and sightlines extending through to the landscape beyond. The former lean-to has been repurposed into a new family entrance the everyday access point complete with built-in storage for coats, school bags, and sports equipment. Integrated joinery throughout the ground floor supports a calm and clutter-free environment.
Externally, the new extension is defined by a bronze-clad canopy roof. Projecting outward to provide shade and shelter, it subtly marks the new addition while remaining visually lightweight. Slender columns pushed to the perimeter allow uninterrupted internal flexibility, while the absence of gutters encourages rainwater to fall freely connecting the built environment back to the natural world.
Daylight simulation testing informed the depth of the overhang, ensuring the interior remains bright throughout the year. A new operable skylight above the staircase further enhances natural light and passive ventilation deep into the plan.
Upstairs, the layout was refined to better meet the family’s evolving needs. Bathrooms were redesigned, with a walk-in shower added to the principal ensuite by relocating the hot water tank to the loft. Additional ensuites were created for the children’s bedrooms to support the home’s long-term adaptability.
Careful attention was given to scale, proportion, and materiality. The new rear elevation aligns with existing upper-storey windows, ensuring a harmonious relationship between old and new. The result is an intervention that feels rooted, restrained, and responsive designed to evolve with the family over time without compromising the character of the original home.
Prior to this, Fabian Danker, Studio Colab director worked with the clients on their previous house extension in Dalston which was featured on the cover of Grand Designs Magazine October 2020.
The Heritage Context
The property is situated in a sensitive location within the North Warnborough Conservation Area. While the cottage itself is considered a “neutral” contributor to the area, it was converted from an 18th-century stable and garage originally serving the Grade II listed Main House. It remains in the immediate setting of both Main House and the Grade II listed Barn.
Incongruous 1970s Additions
The Problem: The existing building is largely a product of a 1970s conversion that “obliterated” its original stable character. Specifically, the two-storey rear elevation is described as “mundane,” “underwhelming,” and “boxy,” featuring a flat asphalt roof that is architecturally discordant with the local vernacular. The Solution: Rather than attempting to mimic 18th-century agricultural forms on a modern facade, the proposal introduces a high-quality contemporary single-storey extension. By utilizing a lightweight, visually permeable design with timber-framed glazing and bronze columns, the extension creates an “elegant counterpoint” to the solid brickwork, effectively enlivening and enhancing the previously unattractive rear elevation.
Avoiding Dominance in a Listed Setting
Previous pre-application advice (2024) rejected a two-storey extension because it would increase the bulky flat-roof area and harm the setting of the adjacent listed Barn and House.
The new proposal strictly adheres to a single-storey height ( maximum). It is set in from the corners of the host building and positioned below the first-floor windows to ensure clear visual subordination. This ensures the new massing does not compete with the prominent thatched roof of the listed Whitewater Barn.
Preservation of Rural Character and Views
The North Warnborough Conservation Area is defined by its “linear layout” and “bucolic, rural character”. Any development that appeared overly “domesticated” or prominent from public footpaths or fields to the north and east could harm this setting. The extension is “discreetly sited” at the rear of the property, which is already well-screened from Hook Road by mature trees and Whitewater House. To respect the rural setting, the design uses a traditional palette in an innovative way, including timber framing and a bronze roof that references historic sheet metal roofing found in agricultural contexts.
Sensitive Remodelling of Modern Elements
An existing open-sided lean-to on the northern elevation was functional but lacked thermal efficiency and architectural cohesion with the main house.
The proposal encloses this lean-to using matching brickwork and timber-framed windows to create a mudroom. By retaining the original mono-pitch profile and reusing the red clay tiles, the works maintain the lean-to as a subordinate feature while improving the building’s sustainability credentials.
Conclusion
The narrative of the proposal is one of preservation through high-quality change. By focusing modern interventions on the least significant (1970s) parts of the building and maintaining strict subordination in scale, the project “preserves the significance and setting” of the surrounding Grade II listed assets while enhancing the character of the Conservation Area.