This semi-detached Victorian villa in a leafy suburb to the west of Nottingham had been lying unoccupied for several years when OCA Studio were commissioned to carry out a full renovation and retrofit for its new owners. A new black timber extension contrasts with the red brick of the main house, and connects the primary living spaces with the garden, while its dual aspect layout allows the internal space to benefit from south light.

The new volume is separated from the existing building with a glazed link, which allows the interior to be flooded with natural light, while its north-facing aspect prevents overheating. This connecting space houses the kitchen, acting as a lynchpin between the formal dining space and the new garden room.

A key aim of the project was to open up the cramped and circuitous ground floor layout, creating a series of spaces which can be opened up or closed off as required. This establishes a natural flow through the property, the traditional front door and Victorian hallway opening up into generous living spaces and the light-filled extension beyond.

A restrained yet effective range of materials are used in the new extension; the kitchen is black to match the exterior cladding, while birch veneered plywood and cork flooring bring a natural warmth to the space. Exposed roof joists to the new volume are clad in birch ply, adding texture and detail to this simple cubic form. Kitchen worktops are in tactile timber terrazzo, which is picked up in the terrazzo tiling of the new bathroom.