Converting a villa in a Conservation Area

Sometimes a restriction can turn out to be an opportunity. When this Victorian villa in Edinburgh’s popular Morningside area came onto the market, it was destined to drum up a lot of interest. However, in contrast to its generously proportioned front reception rooms, the accommodation to the rear had been poorly converted and extended over time, creating a warren of small, cellular spaces, cut off from the garden. aaltsapce was approached by a prospective client, clutching the seller’s schedule. ‘We’d like to put in an offer, but first, can you suggest if this property could be converted?’. A quick feasibility study later and the client had submitted their bid. In a matter of days, it had been accepted and we were appointed to alter and extend the villa.  Our approach was to purge the rear façade of its boxy, utilitarian accretions while retaining the fine Victorian timber framed conservatory. Any extension had to tie in visually and physically with the conservatory whilst satisfying the council’s design guidance on building in an historic Conservation Area. Internally, we reoriented the house to the south facing garden forming new openings that lead directly to a light-filled, spacious and airy new garden room. A key concept was to create interlinked, flowing spaces designed on the diagonal. This device opened up internal views, added spatial complexity & direct links to the garden.