The White House

Adam Knibb Architects were asked to explore design options for an extension to a Grade II* listed 1930’s modernist house originally designed by Architect Amyas Connell.

The White House, located in Surrey, is a rare example of the modernist architecture movement in this part of the UK and throughout the building’s history and alterations, prioritising the quality of light and space have remained key design principles.

The clients’ aim was to design an extension for the White House which replaced their existing summer house and produce an informal open plan living/kitchen area suitable for contemporary family life. A key aspect of the design was creating an extension which was both contemporary in and complimentary to the existing architecture - without mimicking the existing building.

The aim was for the extension to sit harmoniously with the existing house whilst also establishing its own architectural identity.

The proposal being explored for the extension delicately connects to the existing building via a frameless glass link, before entering a new open plan kitchen/dining/living space with full height glazing curved around the exterior. Glass was selected as the dominant material in order to ensure existing views from the original house were retained by providing ‘through-views’ out to the garden through the extension. The curved nature of the extension also allows the landscape to be reflected off the building whilst also juxtaposing the angular character of the existing house - creating visual interest between the old and new.