Modern extension to unusual Grade II listed house
— 17 Mar 2021
Standing guard in the heart of Northam town centre on the North Devon coast, The Mount is a four-storey brick property thought historically to have been a look-out post and possibly part of larger fortification for an earlier extant house.
With an original footprint of only 20m2 including c500mm / 20inch thick walls, the tower’s unusual vertical accommodation needed renovating and extending to improve the living spaces.
Jonathan Rhind Architects were approached to review how the current accommodation could be reordered whilst conserving the historic fabric, and to design a modern single storey extension to replace a previous unsympathetic addition.
Liaising closely with the planning department Jonathan Rhind Architects obtained Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission for a larger replacement extension with a design that takes advantage of the long narrow site and existing screening, contrasting with the vertical proportions of the original building.
The new design improves former issues of restricted accommodation space and conflicts of circulation, creating a house that has at its core the cosy intimate spaces of the historic tower complemented by the light and airy open plan extension.
A green roof softens the look of the extension in the garden when looking down from upper rooms, reduces rainwater run-off and has wildlife benefits.
Visuals created by Part II Architectural Assistant Andreas Hofmeyr, give a sense of how the new extension will occupy the space and fit with the context of the historic building.
