Overview

This planning application is part of an overall project to refurbish the house and relandscape the garden.

The aim is not only to increase living space but also to add visual interest, especially during the Winter months.

Using some of the more recent developments in building we will use lightweight energy-efficient, aesthetically elegant materials.

To create a light, spacious, and airy building with a curved roof, suitable for all seasons including long wet winters, and hot summer days.

It uses environmentally friendly materials.

It must harmonise with the architecture and landscape of the locality, by use of sympathetic materials, colours and textures.

It can trap solar energy from the roof, and use the floor as a heat reservoir as part of an an integrated gas fired/solar heating system.

The elements of the building should be easy to assemble and maintain, with simple access to services, under-floor heating, plumbing, etc.

All load-bearing wall frames must be on the perimeter of the building to enable the use of moveable internal partitions.

The building must not have any steps internal or external, and is contiguous with the main house.

The Area

View of Dinas Head from front bedroom

This house is located in one of the most attractive parts of Fishguard, on a lane leading from the town to the coast path, though this falls outside the conservation area. The Houses here, built in the 30s onward are characterised by bay windows, white or tinted render and prominent front gardens. This area is a popular amenity for both townspeople and visitors alike for coastal walks.

View of Houses on Lampit Way

Approach to back Lane / South view of Mooncoyne

The private lane has shared access for 5 properties including Mooncoyne.

The house

Front of Mooncoyne looking in and looking out from garden path

Built in the 1930s this Edwardian Style house was built mistaking the internal dimensions for the external dimension giving the house its unusually small base in relation to the height.

The Garden

View of front Garden from side of house

A long strip of about 50 metres by 12, predominantly surrounded by privet hedge with views of Dinas Head and Carngelly at the Front. Beyond the back garden a private lane and Fishguard Infants School. Unlike the front garden, the back does not have a vista and is recessed almost 1 metre below road level.

View of back garden, lane and infant's school

The site

The extension is located at the back of the property and replaces an asbestos garage, oil tank, metal bunker, outside toilet, garden shed and coal shed occupying approx 25 sq metres and takes an additional 40 sq metres of the back garden. This amounts to 65 sq metres and though this may be considered large in relation to the house (70 sq metres), it is well accommodated in the overall garden area of 530 sq metres, occupying about 12% of this space.

The original back of the property

The floor of the extension sits almost 1 metre below the level of the back lane. The steps going down from the lane have been replaced by a ramp. The garden wall, hedge and shrubbery are being replaced by low dry stone wall, rockery and herbaceous borders sloping down to the building.

The back of the property cleared and relandscaped

Digital view of extension from the back lane

The extension is concieved as an architecturally significant building, based on sympathetic use of natural materials, complementing the original house.

The building is glazed on all sides, with a curved roof of patinated copper, with echoes of nautical forms. The frame is based on laminated wood beams to give a clear span across the width and a low structural mass. The extension connects to the house via a 2 metre all-glass section, the roof of which may be used as a balcony.

The height of this section is determined by the height of the ground floor windows of the house. The ellipsoid curve of the copper roof is designed to fall below the first floor windows.

Elevations and plans

West elevation of house with extension

East elevation of house with extension

The extension projects beyond the South elevation as a counterbalance to the recess of the North elevation, and an indicator of the garden path. It can be glimpsed from the front gate.

South elevation of house with extension

North elevation of house with extension

Digital Plan view showing extension at the bottom

Plan view of house with extension

Consultations

My neighbours have been supportive and very interested in the project; their views have been very welcome.

There was some initial concern about the size of our original concept, which had a longer structure, with cedar cladding. After several revisions and two meetings with your planning officer Mr Jason Evans we have altered the shape, increased the amount of glazing and reduced the size.

Being able to visualise the building and garden from all angles has greatly helped in optimising the design from everybody's point of view.

Digital view from back garden of Springfield (South)

Digital view from back garden of Maes y Meillion (North)