A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN

A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN



CAIRN completed a renovation and extension of a 1960’s house on the edge of a historic Buckinghamshire village. The clients, a family of four, loved the extraordinary hilltop views of the Chiltons, but the building was too small and in urgent need of refurbishment.

a modern facade A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN an open connection to patio and pool A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN pool A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN

The interior was entirely rebuilt, with extensions added to the side and rear, together with an external lap-pool overlooking the countryside. Only the front wall remains of the original house, maintaining the consistent character of the street.

new two storey side extension A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN robust and open extension A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN depth of columns A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN roof detail A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN

The client wanted to echo the exposed construction of the 1960’s house while achieving excellent environmental performance. To achieve this, the architects split the structure into two revealed layers: steel and timber frameworks internally and deep brick columns externally. These give a sense of robust protection while framing the view to connect family life and landscape.

a place to sit in the lowered dining area A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN the primary columns A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN the view is framed from the hallway A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN new double height bedroom A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN exposed timber and steel structures A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN the view from the lowered reading area A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN

To make an interior that allowed the family to be together but still have their own space, the team proposed a sequence of well-proportioned rooms that are interconnected while keeping distinct characters and hidden corners. Materials and finishes such as the local aggregate concrete floor, clay plaster walls and lime-wash paints create light, calm spaces and improve the internal air quality.

the kitchen and dining area A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN double height bedroom with ply shutters A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN master bedroom view A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN master bedroom A Complete Renovation and Extension of a 1960’s House by CAIRN

A covered terrace at the rear is an in-between space where the client can enjoy a cup of coffee in the fresh air while protected from the weather, accompanied by columns that feel sturdy and companionable. The architects completed the project in March 2020, just in time for lockdown.

Photography by David Grandorge