77+79

On the edge of Hertford town lies this pair of semi-detached Edwardian properties that together form the context for this house within a house(s). The clients along with their three young children originally occupied one house with the second functioning as their GP Surgery for many years. Suddenly needing to accommodate one of their parents, the decision was made to merge both properties into one to create their perfect forever family home.

The semi-detached properties have expressive bay windows to the front elevation, along with expressive stone carvings, however the rear of the properties were particularly mundane. The small rear garden spaces limited potential rear extensions and the decision was made to focus on building within the footprint. As such, the concept was to enliven the rear elevations, with deep thresholds that connected the internal and external and invited the garden to become another room of the house. These deep reveals are then angled to reflect the existing bay window depth and are formed in a pigmented concrete matching the existing stone lintels and front detailing.