Barrington House Extension

📍 Barrington, Cambridge, United Kingdom
👥 Design Team: Ece Çakır Aidan, Nida Ataman

Barrington House explores the transformation of an existing family home through a contemporary extension that strengthens the relationship between architecture, landscape and the adjacent watercourse. Rather than increasing the building's footprint, the proposal works within the existing extension's envelope while rethinking the structural strategy, spatial experience and connection to the garden.

Elevated Living & Landscape Integration

The extension is conceived as a lightweight elevated volume, creating a transparent ground floor that allows the landscape to flow beneath and through the building. This approach minimises the visual impact of the extension while reinforcing the relationship between the house, garden and surrounding landscape. A fully glazed corner on the first floor frames views towards the garden and watercourse, dissolving the boundary between inside and outside.

Working with the Existing House

The proposal carefully retains the existing layout and overall building envelope, allowing the new intervention to connect seamlessly with the original house. Rather than competing with the existing architecture, the extension establishes a clear dialogue between old and new through proportion, materiality and carefully resolved junctions.

Structure & Ground Conditions

A new steel structural system replaces the existing extension structure, allowing greater spatial flexibility while maintaining the approved roof height. The design also considers the site's proximity to the adjacent watercourse, incorporating an excavation and groundwater management strategy that responds to local ground conditions while creating improved internal ceiling heights.

Outdoor Living

A cantilevered balcony wraps around the south-facing façade, extending the living spaces into the landscape. Large openable glazed corners allow the balcony and interior spaces to function as one continuous environment, encouraging year-round outdoor living and strengthening the connection with nature.

Material Character

The extension is expressed as a finely detailed volume clad in weathering Corten steel. Its slender profile and warm patina provide a contemporary yet timeless character, allowing the building to sit comfortably within its rural setting while evolving naturally over time.