A bold and contemporary extension to a charming mid-19th-century stone cottage, carefully designed to navigate the challenges of a highly constrained site within the Horsforth Conservation Area.
The client's brief
When Joe and Julia first purchased their home on Bachelor Lane, the appeal was immediate. The stone cottage overflowed with character, original features, thick stone walls, and a sense of history that reflected the charm of its conservation area setting.
Unfortunately, like many period properties, the layout and functionality didn’t quite meet the demands of 21st-century living. Low ceilings and small, dark and often cold rooms limited their lifestyle. It wasn’t long before they realised that, while the cottage held plenty of charm, it needed rethinking to better suit their needs.
That’s when they approached us, looking for a design that would honour their home’s heritage while introducing the light, space, and flexibility essential for modern living. At the heart of this young family’s brief was the desire to create a kitchen, dining, and living space that flowed seamlessly, not just into one another, but out towards their generous, treelined garden. They envisioned a home that felt open and connected, where family life could unfold with ease, both indoors and out.
In addition, the design needed to accommodate modern life: a dedicated homeworking area and a master bedroom retreat, a private sanctuary where they could unwind and recharge.
Our Challenges
From our very first site visit, it was clear this project would present a unique set of challenges. Joe and Julia wanted a contemporary extension that would significantly expand their home’s internal floor area, a significant ask within the tight constraints of a Conservation Area. Proposals of this nature often face initial resistance from Local Planning Authorities, especially when bold new elements are introduced to historically sensitive settings. This required careful, considered architectural thinking, something we pride ourselves on.
Adding to the complexity, the site included multiple significant level changes, was tightly bordered by neighbouring properties and was heavily protected by Tree Preservation Orders. These factors further limited buildable space and influenced design decisions from the outset.
We understood that to succeed, the design would need to be architecturally bold, a confident contrast to the stone cottage, clearly defined as a later addition. We also recognised the importance of working with the site’s constraints, turning them into defining features of the proposal from the beginning.
Our Proposals
With the site’s tight constraints in mind, we quickly realised that meeting the client’s spatial needs would require a two-storey rear extension. Every detail was carefully considered, from the precise placement of windows to protect the privacy of neighbouring homes to framing views of the mature trees in the rear garden.
By embracing these site-specific opportunities rather than working against them, we developed a design that deliberately broke from conventional forms. Securing planning approval hinged on the finesse of the architectural detailing, a challenge we welcomed, knowing the project’s success would rest on these thoughtful touches.
Most of the additional space was created in a two-storey monopitch element at the rear, constructed using timber-frame methods to reduce loading on the piled foundations. The extension is clad in vertical charred timber, creating a monolithic aesthetic that echoes the rich tones of the original blackened stone cottage while emphasising the verticality of the new structure.
A striking two-storey bay window projects at a chamfered angle from the extension, perfectly framing views of the Leeds skyline on the horizon. Additionally, a single-storey rear extension was introduced, creating a balcony that connects the master bedroom directly to the garden, a peaceful retreat for the family.
Internally, Joe and Julia wanted to deepen the connection with their garden. To achieve this, we lowered the floor levels at the rear of both the cottage and the new extension to align seamlessly with the existing terrace. This created a smooth, flowing transition between indoors and outdoors, with carefully placed steps guiding movement toward the garden. The space feels open and inviting, encouraging the family to enjoy their outdoor surroundings as an extension of their home.
Given the limited footprint of the original cottage, we introduced a bespoke spiral staircase to link the three main floors and increased the width of an existing dormer window to maximise habitable floor area. This neat solution maximised spatial efficiency while adding a distinctive architectural feature, creating a dynamic vertical flow that enhances openness without compromising functionality.
As part of the renovation works to the stone cottage, insulated internal wall linings, new windows, increased insulation to both the roof and floor and a mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system were installed to improve thermal comfort. There are also plans to install a Ground Source Heat Pump in the rear garden in the future.
Our Outcome
The end result is a bespoke solution thoughtfully crafted to meet the unique challenges of the site, sit harmoniously within a Conservation Area and precisely suit the needs of Joe and Julia’s family. This project is a product of creative, careful architectural thinking that brings function, form, and context together in perfect balance.
Before
After
In our original brief to Mesh, we asked for open plan living in which we could feel connected to each other and to the outdoor space, but with clearly defined areas that would also allow for a degree of separation. In terms of style, we wanted something modern and bold but also to respect the cottage’s original features, and importantly, we didn’t want to change the view of the cottage from the street. Somehow, Mesh managed to resolve these contradictions and gave us an initial concept that surpassed our expectations. We worked together to fine tune the details of the design and have ended up with a home that not only looks fantastic but feels comfortable and ‘fits’ us perfectly. One of the best and most surprising aspects of the extension/renovation is that, wherever we are in the house, the new windows provide a wonderful view and amazing light, yet they’re positioned so that our neighbours can’t see in, and we never feel overlooked. You simply couldn’t achieve this kind of effect without a great architect.
In our original brief to Mesh, we asked for open plan living in which we could feel connected to each other and to the outdoor space, but with clearly defined areas that would also allow for a degree of separation. In terms of style, we wanted something modern and bold but also to respect the cottage’s original features, and importantly, we didn’t want to change the view of the cottage from the street. Somehow, Mesh managed to resolve these contradictions and gave us an initial concept that surpassed our expectations. We worked together to fine tune the details of the design and have ended up with a home that not only looks fantastic but feels comfortable and ‘fits’ us perfectly. One of the best and most surprising aspects of the extension/renovation is that, wherever we are in the house, the new windows provide a wonderful view and amazing light, yet they’re positioned so that our neighbours can’t see in, and we never feel overlooked. You simply couldn’t achieve this kind of effect without a great architect.
In our original brief to Mesh, we asked for open plan living in which we could feel connected to each other and to the outdoor space, but with clearly defined areas that would also allow for a degree of separation. In terms of style, we wanted something modern and bold but also to respect the cottage’s original features, and importantly, we didn’t want to change the view of the cottage from the street. Somehow, Mesh managed to resolve these contradictions and gave us an initial concept that surpassed our expectations. We worked together to fine tune the details of the design and have ended up with a home that not only looks fantastic but feels comfortable and ‘fits’ us perfectly. One of the best and most surprising aspects of the extension/renovation is that, wherever we are in the house, the new windows provide a wonderful view and amazing light, yet they’re positioned so that our neighbours can’t see in, and we never feel overlooked. You simply couldn’t achieve this kind of effect without a great architect.
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