The Gables – heritage renovations in Darlington
BDAWA 2020 Design Awards
Winner - Best Heritage Design
2021 TRENDS INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARDS
Highly Commended - Renovation Of The Year
Our Client approached us for advice on renovating their character home in Darlington.
They had spoken to builders who gave them the standard "knock it down and start again." While this would undoubtedly make things easier for a builder, a new house could never replace the history, character or charm that they loved in the original home.
We explored several options for updating 100 years of haphazard alterations and additions to meet modern living requirements while respecting and accentuating the character of the old house. Our design philosophy was that conservation of the original house should be given highest priority. A perfect reconstruction was not the objective, rather an honest expression of old and new.
A new addition, contemporary in expression but utilising the language of the old cottage accommodates a modern kitchen and family meals area with honed concrete floors, high raked ceilings, and rod tied trusses. This opens directly onto an outdoor dining space which overlooks the valley and is connected by new stone steps, down the steeply sloping site to the gardens below.
Lightweight steel doors form a glazed breezeway link connection the old and new structures, framing the valley view and creating a sense of arrival. The renovations provide beautiful, light filled living spaces which draw the landscape in from all sides.
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See the before and after images
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