Status
Complete
Type
Extension and Refurbishment
Key Features
Therapy Room
Sustainable Design
Year
2021 - 2025
The Brief
This project involves the renovation and reconfiguration of an existing property to create a safe, accessible, and future-ready home for Jack, a young ambulant disabled, and his family.
Developed through close collaboration with the family, the design focuses on supporting Jack’s independence while creating a warm, practical home that works for everyday family life.
The proposals prioritise accessibility, improved circulation, and flexible spaces that can support therapy, daily routines, and changing needs over time.
The Challenge
The existing property presented a number of limitations. Circulation and access were constrained, the kitchen and conservatory were in poor condition, and parts of the building were unlikely to meet current building regulation standards.
Significant work was required to bring the property up to a habitable, compliant, and energy-efficient standard. The layout also needed to be reconsidered to better support Jack’s mobility needs as he grows older and becomes more independent. This included improving access at the entrance, creating safer and more functional kitchen and living spaces, and ensuring bedrooms and bathrooms were arranged in a way that supported both family life and long-term safeguarding.
Balancing accessibility, structural constraints, and budget considerations was a further challenge. Many proposed changes were influenced by the existing condition of the building and the need to address underlying construction and insulation issues, rather than simply extending or enlarging the home.
The Solution
The design reorganises the ground floor to improve access and circulation, including opening up the entrance area and introducing sheltered external coverage to make entering and leaving the home easier in all weather conditions.
Jack’s bedroom has been positioned to allow direct access to the courtyard and close connection to a dedicated therapy space, creating a private and supportive environment for both daily life and rehabilitation activities. The kitchen and main living areas have been redesigned to improve usability, accessibility, and connection to the garden. The replacement of the existing conservatory with a fully insulated, building-regulation-compliant extension improves energy efficiency and creates a more comfortable and usable living space with direct garden access. Structural alterations and dormer additions also improve headroom and usability within the upper floor rooms.
Flexibility has been carefully considered throughout the home. Spaces such as the therapy room have the potential to be adapted in the future, allowing the house to evolve alongside Jack’s needs.
The result is a carefully considered family home that balances accessibility, practicality, and comfort, supporting independence while creating a welcoming and supportive environment for everyday living.
