BLACK HOUSE

Black House is a mid-war, architect-designed house, that imbued many modern features for the period in which it was built. Although there were interesting 1960s modifications, the property had suffered at the hands of previous owners who had chosen to add a rear extension which obscured views into the garden as well as installing a ground-floor shower room which congested the main flow of the ground floor.

121 Collective’s aim was to create a family bathroom, a fourth bedroom, a ground floor guest suite, and a new kitchen and living area within a defined budget. Improved access to the garden and updated exterior elements (roof, gutters, windows) were also important, as well as allowing the existing features to flourish.

The removal of the clutter towards the entrance enabled the original double-height stair gallery to breathe, and demolishing the ground floor shower room provided the space for a generous, light filled entrance. The brave removal of the majority of the rear extension allowed for the construction of a vaulted kitchen, dining and living space. 

The choice of cladding chosen to link the building with its rural environment was carefully selected to stitch the old in with the new.