Located in Newhaven’s conservation area in Edinburgh, this extension replaces a former garage between an existing home and boundary wall. Positioned at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac and sheltered by mature trees, the design respects the privacy and character of the neighbourhood while opening the house to new views of the Firth of Forth.

The one and a half storey lean-on extension consists of two volumes with perpendicular focal points. The ground floor volume is opened up horizontally by the positioning of two large openings at opposite ends and between the existing walls resulting in an open plan room which stretches from the trees of the park to the water of the bay. The triple pitched roof of the first floor volume is opened up vertically via a large sky light which frames the ever changing atmospheric conditions present on a site adjacent to the sea, while keeping this part of the extension private.

Upstairs, the master bedroom is extended with an en-suite. The entire lower half of the room is tiled up to head height sculpting the floor, walls and table into a sole basin, while the upper half sloping towards the sky light is kept white to distribute the light throughout the space. 

With a black zinc roof atop sandstone walls, the extension is both distinct and respectful, offering a contemporary interpretation that belongs, yet quietly redefines. In order to minimise its impact during the construction and after, the envelope of the extension was erected from the inside out and the building is stepped back from the sun path of the neighbouring property.

An extension, by nature, will always be treated as a newcomer within the well established built context of this area. This project focuses on the intersection of being part of a place and creating its own environment at the same time.