A detached rural house in Suffolk gains 96m² of new living space designed to finally connect it to the landscape it sits within. The existing building, a 1990s dwelling set within a 5,750m² plot of mature trees, ponds, and agricultural land, had everything going for it except a plan that made use of it. Small windows with sill heights above 1m, a convoluted entrance through a dark utility area, and a failing conservatory kept the house turned inward.

The proposal replaces the conservatory with a two-storey pitched roof extension set away from the existing house, linked by a new single-storey entrance hall that becomes the legible main entry to the property. Primary living spaces move into the extension: an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area with framed window views on all four elevations and large sliding doors opening onto a level courtyard. Above the entrance link, a mezzanine provides a compact home office and shower room, making use of the volume without over-building.