Case Study

1950s whole house eco-refurbishment

Quick Facts

Location

Redland, north Bristol

Property type

1950s, four‑bedroom
semi‑detached house

Duration

9 Months

Services

Extension, Renovation, Sustainability

Project Summary

Whole house renovation including – remodelling the ground and first floors, adding a brick clad rear extension, carrying out a hip‑to‑gable loft conversion for a fourth bedroom and home office, and delivering a full sustainable upgrade – including external wall insulation, solar panels, underfloor heating and a heat pump – for a true whole‑house eco refurbishment.

We knew we needed a really good team to help us get the potential out of the house and the location… Space Design and Build gave us a brilliant service right from day one.

The Brief

The client fell in love with the location and the potential that they could see in the property, to realise their vision and make their dream ‘forever home’ a reality. The family of four with two young daughters, wanted an open plan space with bigger rooms that flowed out into the garden. The property needed upgrading from an energy perspective to meet the client’s desire for a true eco-home.

Key requirements and priorities

One of the important aspects was to improve the sustainability of the home and the thermal envelope. This was done with the introduction of solar panels on the roof, and new air source heat pumps, upgraded insulation in the loft conversion and the new extension. We like to challenge preconceptions, proving that it is possible to install eco-friendly energy solutions in a 1950s building.

Design inspirations and unique, must-have features

From a design point of view, the client wanted an industrial-chic aesthetic with retro elements. They liked exposed brick work and metal doors which we incorporated into the design. We collaborated with Ivywell Interiors who helped us ensure that the decoration seamlessly matched with the architecture and build. We worked together from the very start of the project to ensure that the client brief was delivered seamlessly.

"We knew we needed a really good team to help us get the potential out of the house and the location… Space Design and Build gave us a brilliant service right from day one."

The Challenges

A survey revealed a ground floor divided by a narrow, enclosed stair, dilapidated side and rear lean‑tos, an internal garage and dated décor.

The garden was overgrown and steeply sloped; the loft dormer was undersized and in poor condition.

The whole house needed a lot of work to modernise.

A survey revealed a ground floor divided by a narrow, enclosed staircase; an attic conversion with undersized dormer in bad condition; plus dilapidated side and rear lean-tos.

In addition, the ground was steeply sloped which meant that the house was on lots of different levels.

The family wanted a single level, open plan living space opening out onto the garden which presented many challenges.

The Solution

Elke Dittrich of DHV Architects prepared the drawings and tested multiple layouts. On the ground floor, both lean‑tos were removed, side access and the original entrance retained, and the former dining‑room wall (now the kitchen) relocated to create a wider stair and open space. The garage became a utility and plant room, with a new WC beside the entrance.

The stepped rear extension now forms a generous family hub: the kitchen and play area sit at entry level, then two shallow steps descend into the dining and living zones, all arranged in a single sequence to keep everyone connected.

The challenge from a construction perspective was balancing the requirements of the client, architect and interior designer from both an aesthetic and logistical standpoint.

Throughout the building regulation and construction phase, our expertise in sustainable construction and high-end homes really came to the fore – we ensured every detail was executed to the highest standard.

Space Design Build has a long standing relationship with Elke at DHV, across many projects and it’s a partnership that works extremely well. This was a complex structural build and at one point we had the roof off, the back elevation taken out, and foundations redone – all this on made up, sloping ground. Once the shell of the house was back together, the fun started on the interior engineering and structure involving tilers, carpenters and electricians. Collectively, we’ve turned what was quite a dark, north-facing house into a spectacular, bright and airy home with a beautiful finish and lovely warm feel to it.