Chesapeake House

Porter Robson was commissioned to transform the ground floor of an existing family home in Wickham, creating a contemporary living environment with a stronger relationship to its garden and surrounding landscape.

The existing house had evolved through a series of previous additions, including a conservatory, carport and outbuildings that provided useful accommodation but were increasingly inefficient and disconnected from the main dwelling. The new proposal replaces these elements with a carefully considered single-storey extension that consolidates the accommodation while reducing the amount of built form along the neighbouring boundary.

The architecture responds directly to the topography of the site. Rather than imposing a single level across the garden, subtle changes in floor level are used to organise the interior and follow the natural fall of the land. This allows the house to step gradually towards the garden, creating a more natural transition between inside and outside.

At the heart of the new plan is a generous dining and entertaining space, conceived as the principal social room of the house. Alongside it, a dedicated snug / quiet space provides a more intimate environment for reading, relaxation and contemplation. A window seat, office, utility and practical bike and shower facilities are integrated into the wider arrangement, creating a home that balances everyday function with spaces designed simply to pause and enjoy.

The client naturally gravitates towards the rear of the house, the new extension reinforces this, opening the principal living spaces towards the quieter garden while using large areas of glazing to bring daylight deep into the plan and strengthen the connection with the landscape.

A low, predominantly flat-roofed form keeps the addition subservient to the existing house and reduces its impact on neighbouring properties. Brickwork, masonry detailing and aluminium glazing establish a restrained contemporary palette that complements the original dwelling while allowing the new addition to have its own architectural identity.

Chesapeake House demonstrates how an existing home can be reorganised around landscape, light and the changing needs of its occupants, creating spaces for both shared family life and moments of quiet retreat.