INTERIORS
Glen Thomas Architecture wanted to have as much direct sunlight entering the new rear extension as possible. To achieve this, they constructed a narrow circular steel column inside the house, which allowed for an external wrap-around glazing solution, and they added full-height sliding aluminium frame glass doors
PONTCANNA HOUSE Take a look inside Pontcanna House, a Victorian property which has been given a modernisation makeover Words by Evelyn Green Photography by Richard Wood
R
adical and unashamedly contemporary are probably not the words you would normally apply to a Victorian property, but in the case of Pontcanna House, you can feel free to. The semi-detached home in, you guessed it, Pontcanna, has been given a modern overhaul by Penylanbased architectural design company Glen Thomas Architecture (GTA). “The new owners wanted a complete modernisation of the rear of the property by removing the additions to the house such as a lean-to and a conservatory,” says Glen Thomas who runs GTA, which specialises in contemporary extensions, contextual one-off designs, newbuild houses and multiple-house developments. “Alongside this, they wished for a sympathetic total refurbishment of the interior and a loft conversion. We embraced the challenge of designing clean, bright, sharp spaces while conserving and respecting the history of the original structure.” n For more: www.glenthomasarchitecture.co.uk
64 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
It was important for the kitchen to be seen as part of the fabric of the house, so GTA (with the help of Welsh manufacturer Sigma3 Kitchens) designed white, handleless furniture, and the tall units were buried into the wall. A three-metre island with a solid oak breakfast bar became the focus of the social, well-used space, with dual aspects through the main core of the property and to the dining/living areas
