This radically designed extension has brought a tired 1950s bungalow back to life
When Sarah and Chris Lawson first began thinking about how to improve the space quality and flow of their 1950s bungalow, the obvious solution seemed to be to add a box off the living room. “And, in fact, following our initial discussions with him, our architect Neil Taylor did come back to us with the idea of a box,” says Sarah. “But he also presented us with a few other options – one of which is what we have now.”
The couple and their two young children had been living in the house, in the Edinburgh suburb of Joppa, for five years and knew that extending the bungalow had the potential to markedly improve their lives. “We were taken aback by how radical Neil’s design was – we’d been thinking along much more conservative lines,” admits Sarah. “But what a transformation it has made to our house and the way we live in it.”
The design may have looked radical, but to Neil Taylor of Edinburgh-based practice T-A-P, it was the one that made the most practical sense – it wasn’t just about its eloquent, elegant good looks that are redolent of a contemporary campanile, or bell tower.
“The original bungalow was square-shaped in plan, but at some point over the years a new wing was added to create an L-shape,” says the architect. “This was used as the dining area, but in order to enter it from the living space, you first had to go through a narrow, slightly contorted galley kitchen. It was clear to all of us that there was a real disconnect between the living and dining spaces.”
This is just a taster, you can browse the full article with more stunning photography on pages 138-144, issue 103.
DETAILS
What An extension to a three-bedroom bungalow
Where Joppa, Edinburgh
Architect Neil Taylor, T-A-P
Contractor Ramsay Building Services
Photography David Barbour
Words Caroline Ednie
