Green retrofit and extension of grade ll listed riverside property near Henley set within 8 acres of mature gardens.
This country house in Wargrave has its origins in the early 16th century (potentially earlier) whereby it functioned as the original medieval manor for Wargrave. At this time it was a much smaller building with what is now the reception hall being the main front, jettied to the north, east and south with a two storey cross wing to the rear. The surviving timber framing for this earliest part of the building can be seen internally. The manor was comprehensively redeveloped in the C18th and late C19th early C20th in the Tudor half-timbered style. Architecturally, the building is a palimpsest of phases of development and later alteration. Externally, these different layers are clearly legible and provide an appreciable understanding of how the building was altered through the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. This multiphase nature of the building makes a strong positive contribution to its architectural and archaeological values and our proposal is one further layer in the manor’s development to be read and understood as part of the overall architectural composition.
The refurbishment included a large contemporary rear extension housing a new kitchen and master bedroom suite at first floor. The extension uses the existing palette of materials to make the material connections with the main house but the detailing is explicitly contemporary.
CSK ARCHITECTS
Before photo
HISTORIC RETROFIT & EXTENSION
The existing roof needed totally overhauling. There were rotten timbers which needed replacing, a masonry chimney stack which needed stabilising and the whole roof needed insulating to reduce operational carbon. Clay tiles were carefully salvaged for re-use.
Traditional techniques were used in the general retrofit of the historic fabric.
HISTORIC RETROFIT & EXTENSION
The existing roof covering was found to be in a very poor state and with an un-insulated structure leading to a degradation of the building fabric as a whole. Listed building consent was obtained to fully re-tile the roof and in so doing this allowed the opportunity to upgrade and insulate. Using natural plantbased materials such as wood fibre insulation and the traditional technique of chestnut lathes with a lime plaster finish, the building is able to move and breathe ensuring longevity to the life of the building. Aside from the practical advantages of this approach, the quality of the space and experience of the occupant is also enhanced, providing a softer acoustic and aesthetic atmosphere.
HISTORIC RETROFIT & EXTENSION
The refurbishment includes a large contemporary rear extension housing a new kitchen and master bedroom suite at first floor. The siting of the extension was chosen to avoid detrimental impact to the significant, historic fabric. The overall form of the rear extension is intended to continue the gable-shaped dialogue of the house. It offers a clearly contemporary addition that is respectful to the host structure and responsive to the surrounding context. This is achieved by ensuring the scale of the addition is set back from and below the existing gable as a subservient addition. This also ensures that the extension does not interfere with the architectural feature of the tile creaser details at the eaves and ridge.
The extension uses the existing palette of materials to make the material connections with the main house, painted brickwork and terracotta tiles, but the way these materials are detailed is explicitly contemporary so that this reads as a new addition. The glazed link provides a clear demarcation and successful juxtaposition between old and new.
An example of this detailing is the way the roof tile folds down to become tiled wall hanging with a concealed gutter. Contemporary slot windows also fold down from the roof to the wall.
CSK ARCHITECTS
INTERNAL REMODELLING
The brief from the client was for a wholesale refurbishment and extension to prolong the life of the house and make it a sustainable place to live in terms of ongoing operational energy costs.
The challenge was to how to retrofit the historic fabric to meet contemporary requirements for well insulated, air tight buildings and there was also a desire to forge a greater visual connection to the river and grounds from the accommodation in the new wing.
INTERNAL REMODELLING
The new principal bedroom was housed in the rear extension. Exposed finishes on the ceiling twinned with natural clay plasters provides a calm palette of materials. Views to the external parkland are framed through the various window openings and skylights.
CSK ARCHITECTS
INTERNAL REMODELLING
Entrance corridor to principal bedroom.
The brick wall of the original house is exposed in the principal bedroom along with the two original windows in this wall which offer daylight to the bathroom behind.
RE-MODELLING
MAIN ENTRANCE HALL
This country house has a main entrance hall at the heart of the plan, this dates from the early 16th century.
In the reconfigured house plan this halls remains as the first place guests enter through to access the main living accommodation and kitchen.
In this room tapestries were restored. Timber rafters were sanded back and a new contemporary oak parquet floor was laid in lieu of the original, which was beyond repair.
All services were replaced including new LED lighting throughout.
A new stone fire place surround and hearth was sourced from a reclamation yard to suit the period of the house.
RE-MODELLING
MAIN ENTRANCE HALL
This country house has a main entrance hall at the heart of the plan, this dates from the early 16th century.
In the reconfigured house plan this halls remains as the first place guests enter through to access the main living accommodation and kitchen.
In this room tapestries were restored. Timber rafters were sanded back and a new contemporary oak parquet floor was laid in lieu of the original, which was beyond repair.
All services were replaced including new LED lighting throughout.
A new stone fire place surround and hearth was sourced from a reclamation yard to suit the period of the house.
RE-MODELLING
MAIN ENTRANCE HALL
This country house has a main entrance hall at the heart of the plan, this dates from the early 16th century.
In the reconfigured house plan this halls remains as the first place guests enter through to access the main living accommodation and kitchen.
In this room tapestries were restored. Timber rafters were sanded back and a new contemporary oak parquet floor was laid in lieu of the original, which was beyond repair.
All services were replaced including new LED lighting throughout.
A new stone fire place surround and hearth was sourced from a reclamation yard to suit the period of the house.
STAIRCASES
Both the main staircase and secondary staircase were re-designed. Simple, contemporary timber detailing was applied to the design of both staircases to compliment the aged timber frame on show in the walls and ceilings.
The same species of timber, Oak was specified to make the material connection with existing. The existing oak beams which had been treated with an unattractive dark stain were sanded back to reveal the beauty of the natural wood.
CSK ARCHITECTS
before photo before photo
MAIN STAIRCASE
With the main staircase we kept the bones of the existing stair and over-clad this with new oak treads and risers to match the new oak parquet floors. The balustrading was completely replaced to allow it to read as a new insertion.
before photo
NEW KITCHEN WING
The kitchen is located in the early twentieth addition to the house and links the old house into the new extension. This provides an open plan kitchen, dining and living space. The configuration of the existing layout was such that there was no direct view of the river from the main reception rooms. The new extension was designed specifically to address this and provides a new family room, elevated to maximise the vista.
CSK ARCHITECTS
NEW KITCHEN WING
The kitchen is located in the early twentieth addition to the house and links the old house into the new extension. This provides an open plan kitchen, dining and living space. The configuration of the existing layout was such that there was no direct view of the river from the main reception rooms. The new extension was designed specifically to address this and provides a new family room, elevated to maximise the vista.
CSK ARCHITECTS
FRAMING VIEWS
From all the new windows in the rear extension windows and rooflights are carefully placed to frame the views.
CSK ARCHITECTS
NEW LIVING ROOM
The kitchen is located in the early twentieth addition to the house and links the old house into the new extension. This provides an open plan kitchen, dining and living space. The configuration of the existing layout was such that there was no direct view of the river from the main reception rooms. The new extension was designed specifically to address this and provides a new family room, elevated to maximise the vista.
CSK ARCHITECTS
BOOTROOM
CSK ARCHITECTS
New contemporary oak joinery compliments existing oak beams in the new boot room. Finishes are simple and robust.
INTERIOR FEEL
Light wood was chosen for the interiors to lift the mood of the rooms. Contemporary art and detailing is set off against the traditional details of the original fabric which has been restored.
CSK ARCHITECTS
REAR EXTENSION
The rear extension picks up on the palette of materials from the original house, but the detailing is crisp and contemporary.
The original timbers of the existing house were painted light grey to tie the whole elevation together.
CSK ARCHITECTS
before photo
FRONT ELEVATION
The rear extension picks up on the palette of materials from the original house, but the detailing is crisp and contemporary.
The original timbers of the existing house were painted light grey to tie the whole elevation together.
