For centuries, small-scale residential extensions have been an indispenseble source of employment to architects around the world, but the results have rarely garnered plaudits or press coverage. Today, thatis beginning to change. Driven by factors inclouding high property prices and flexible lifestyles, additions and alterations to private homes have become one of the most fertile breading grounds for architectural innovation.
Extensions profile 39 architect-designed additions to homes in 11 countries. Each example describes the client's requirements, and the architect's solution, as well as the major hurdles and build process. The outcomes are diverse and surprising, but all of them have revitalized and enriched the original building, and that surely is the definition of a successful extension.
The case studies are arranged in chapters dedicated to different types of extension, whether above, below, beside or behind buildings. The book also includes practical advice for homeowners, such as how to prepare, find an architect and minimize costs.