Whitberry: A town with a mysterious past and curious inhabitants, where secrets lurk in every alley and hidden entities are rumored to be present.
News Article: Pend Architects Transform Georgian Farmhouse with Contemporary Extension
In East Lothian, Scotland, Pend Architects have completed a remarkable transformation of Whitberry, a Grade B listed Georgian farmhouse. The architectural firm, working closely with the client who also acted as project manager, aimed to preserve and enhance the property's character and charm while incorporating contemporary construction technologies.
The previous rear elevation of Whitberry was a patchwork of masonry, a result of various additive extensions over time. Pend's design consolidates these disparate elements with a characterful extension that visually and physically unifies the facade.
The new extension introduces a fluted, blush-toned stone wall, designed by the architects and fabricated in precast concrete. This wall shifts gracefully into full-height glazing with cherry timber-framed sliding doors and a subtle glass-to-glass corner, creating a clear, elegant link between the interior and the garden. A horizontal, light-coloured concrete fascia runs along the extension, tying together the historic extensions. The color palette of the stone wall echoes East Lothian's brick and sandstone.
The kitchen, now the social heart of the home, has been relocated to the new extension. It opens onto both a small internal courtyard and the garden. The kitchen benefits from underfloor heating powered by an air source heat pump. A vaulted skylight has been introduced, bringing daylight deep into the kitchen space. The skylight's enlarged opening allows it to spill into the adjacent dining room, bringing a sense of lightness and porosity to the composition.
The strategy reflects the family's routines, accommodating daily comings and goings with children and dogs from both front and back. The rear extension reorients the plan towards the garden, improving circulation and connection with the outdoor space while respecting the building's architectural heritage. A concealed door within the kitchen joinery leads to a boot room and utility space.
This door forms a threshold between the main house and the annex, used as a short-term rental. The architect's strategy reflects the family's routines, ensuring smooth transitions between the private home and the rental property.
In summary, Pend Architects' contemporary extension to Whitberry addresses the previously fragmented and patchwork rear elevation by adding a carefully designed single-storey extension that visually and physically unifies the facade, creating a harmonious blend of the old and the new.
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The contemporary interior-design of the transformed Whitberry blend seamlessly with the estate's home-and-garden, emphasizing the client's desired lifestyle of open-plan living. The cherry timber-framed sliding doors and the glass-to-glass corner serve as a reflection of this contemporary lifestyle, merging the indoor spaces with the outdoor garden.
The renovated kitchen, now positioned in the annex for rental, reflects the family's lifestyle, providing a functional and efficient workspace designed to accommodate daily routines and the needs of their children and pets. This renovation embodies a modern lifestyle within the historical context of the Georgian farmhouse.
