Hipped House – ADC

The distinctive hipped roof form of the extension follows the line of a large dormer window in the roofline of the original house.

Planning restrictions called for an external material palette limited to dark clay tiles, wood and render. The grey-toned palette selected by Oliver Leech Architects subtly sets the addition apart from the red tiles used on neighbouring extensions.

Grey handmade Danish tiles cover the roof, while vertical planks of oiled Siberian larch encase the ground floor. A cast concrete plinth below bears shuttering marks that align with the joins in the timber cladding above before flowing into a polished patio surface.

“I think the choice of the external materials was our biggest design challenge,” says architect Oliver Leech. “We spoke to every tile company in England to find something bespoke, and ended up looking to the Danish company Petersen for the grey roof tiles.”

“The Hipped House is one of the first projects in the UK to use these lovely handmade tiles, which add to the sense of calm that exudes throughout the interiors. We are most proud of the intricate and technically complex detailing in this project. We spent countless hours on site with our fantastic builders, lining up materials and ensuring each junction, line, and texture worked in harmony.”

A courtyard incorporated between the extension and the existing house helps to draw natural light into the centre of the house, and contains a single red acer tree framed by a window at the end of the dining area.

Internally the spaces have been finished with polished concrete and white-oiled joinery that pay homage to the external material palette and create a soothing environment. A new solid oak staircase with steel spindles unfolds from the floorboards in the entrance hall to connect the two storeys, while outside a short flight of concrete steps leads up to the garden.