In this project, we haven't set out to reinvent suburbia: we set out to renovate the back of a Victorian house with a relatively modest budget, and to make home of great utility and character.

Building projects are a mass of decisions that out like a filigree.

In our practice we have made a testing but optimistic environment where every decision & every square meter must earn its place. every step forward is mindful of its 'economic cost'. In the end, if everywhere your eye runs the decisions made resound well with the heart and the head, then the building will be an easy pleasure.

The plan is condensed and efficient. It optimises the functional relationships and clearly expresses zones for sleeping, services, indoor and outdoor living.

The section comprehensively solves the problem of providing light, ventilation and aspect to the belly of a somewhat squatly rectangular plan. Just where it might be dark, closed and landlocked, it becomes bright, hugh and unexpectedly connected. This drives the building's energy efficiency.

The external expression of the new work is robustly modern, but with subtle classical derivations that will project it from the worst ravages of fashion. The landscape designer has picked up on the strong proposition made by the house and answered emphatically. the folded screen across the back yard matches and responds to the deck and creates an outside room of great character.