Garden Room Extension, Eskbank, Midlothian
View of the extension from the garden
The extension is clad in two types of zinc; Anthra and Quartz.
The cantilever stops at the patio door.
The feature window houses a deep window seat
The thick external stone walls were kept and the new structure dropped inside
The garden room contains kitchen, dining and living spaces all flowing naturally out to the garden via the raised patio
Elements of the old Victorian building have been retained internally as well as externally.
The window seat uses existing landscaping for shade.
The kitchen has a panoramic window overlooking the garden
An existing arch under the stairs connects the main house to the garden room
September 2020
This Victorian villa in Eskbank, Midlothian, was in good condition, with a mature rear garden, however the main public rooms were at the front. The property had an original one storey extension at the rear, which housed a kitchen, numerous pantries and a conservatory - all on different levels.
The client purchased the property and engaged Capital A to design a space which would take advantage of the beautiful rear garden and also be a hub for family life, with a modern kitchen, dining and living space.
The new layout kept the original external walls which were a mix of good quality cut stone and solid, but less appealing, brick construction. The rear elevation, which had most of the brick, was rendered over in white. The walls were unusually thick in places and this provided an opportunity to create a feature window seat, overlooking the mature landscaping.
Once the internal walls were removed and the existing floor level reduced, the new structure was ‘dropped’ into the old shell.
This Victorian villa in Eskbank, Midlothian, was in good condition, with a mature rear garden, however the main public rooms were at the front. The property had an original one storey extension at the rear, which housed a kitchen, numerous pantries and a conservatory - all on different levels.
The client purchased the property and engaged Capital A to design a space which would take advantage of the beautiful rear garden and also be a hub for family life, with a modern kitchen, dining and living space.
The new layout kept the original external walls which were a mix of good quality cut stone and solid, but less appealing, brick construction. The rear elevation, which had most of the brick, was rendered over in white. The walls were unusually thick in places and this provided an opportunity to create a feature window seat, overlooking the mature landscaping.
Once the internal walls were removed and the existing floor level reduced, the new structure was ‘dropped’ into the old shell.
A central element of the design is the cantilever roof which provides shelter from rain and shade from summer sunshine. This element also gives the rear elevation a long, horizontal emphasis. The new structure is clad in two type of zinc; Anthra (black) and Quartz (grey). The black zinc is used to cap the head of the existing masonry walls and frame the feature window, this colour matches the new window frames. The grey zinc is used on the roof and vertical walls.
The junction between the main house and new garden room is via an existing stone archway underneath the existing stairs. Some of the old stone is in good condition as has been exposed inside the new building.
Two existing rooms in the main house were altered as part of the project, forming a new shower room and utility room on the ground floor.
This project began in January 2020 and was heavily impacted by the Covid19 lockdown. The client and contractor both collaborated effectively in dealing with this. The end result is a testament to that.
For more detail see this blog post.
The project was shortlisted for a Scottish Design Award (Low Cost Project Category) in 2021.
The project was featured in Homes & Interiors Scotland Magazine, August 2022
The junction between the main house and new garden room is via an existing stone archway underneath the existing stairs. Some of the old stone is in good condition as has been exposed inside the new building.
Two existing rooms in the main house were altered as part of the project, forming a new shower room and utility room on the ground floor.
This project began in January 2020 and was heavily impacted by the Covid19 lockdown. The client and contractor both collaborated effectively in dealing with this. The end result is a testament to that.
For more detail see this blog post.
The project was shortlisted for a Scottish Design Award (Low Cost Project Category) in 2021.
The project was featured in Homes & Interiors Scotland Magazine, August 2022
Construction Costs
The project cost approximately £200,000 + VAT. This includes a shower room and utility in the existing house.
The extension works out about £3,000 + VAT per square meter
Contractors and Consultants
BUILDER: Zebra Property Group
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS: SDC
ZINC CLADDING: Supplied by VM Zinc.
GLAZING: Supplied and fitted by Mitchell Glass
KITCHEN: Supplied by EKCO
PHOTOS: Capital A Architecture Ltd.
Architects Fees
The following fees are for illustration only;
Feasibly Study - £2,500
Planning Application - £3,250
Building Warrant Application - £5,000
Pre-Construction (Tender) - £3,000
Construction Stage - £6,300
Post-Construction (Snagging) - £1,000
See this page for more details on the stages of a project.
See this page for more details on Architects Fees.
Consultants Costs and Other Fees
Structural Engineers - £1,700
Planning Application Fee to Local Council - £202
Building Warrant Application Fee to Local Council - £1,137
Book A Free Consultation With An Architect
Capital A offer a free, no obligation consultation if your property is in Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife or Dundee. Our email and phone details are on the Contact Page.
REGISTERED OFFICE: Capital A Architecture Ltd. 8 Cameron Drive, Falkland, Fife, KY15 7DL. Registered as a Company in Scotland. Company Number SC374502.
