Issue 44 winter 24 - Journal - Page 98
Bringing daylight into dark
core of a period home with
VELUX Heritage conservation
roof windows
When a couple bought an Edwardian semi-detached villa in the Tynemouth conservation area, they
reached out to architects Spence & Dower to help them reimagine it as a forever home.
The property was built between 1900 and 1929 and it was
essential to preserve and enhance the house’s character
and appearance.
• Three linked roof windows between the exposed purlins
on the dark top landing of the stairwell to bring daylight
and fresh air through the building.
While they had six big double bedrooms, there weren’t
enough bathrooms and the living space felt cramped.
The loft area consisted of one small rooflight in the
landing and an internal window in the bathroom towards
the landing.
Loft bathroom space transformation
The bathroom on the top floor didn’t have external
windows, but it did have an internal one facing the indoor
landing area. Therefore, it was necessary to open the
bathroom loft area to install a ventilation system.
The design process focused on addressing the family's
needs (the couple have two children) while respecting the
property’s heritage.
The clients were keen on following the proposal but,
during construction, VELUX launched its Heritage
conservation roof window. The sleek and subtle low-profile design harmonised seamlessly with the house’s style.
Three key iterations were proposed for the loft area by the
architects:
• Six VELUX roof windows to bring in additional light
and make the loft space feel more open.
• A further roof window above the redesigned shower
room to allow the loft platform to have two windows for
stargazing in different directions.
Once the first VELUX Heritage conservation roof
window was installed in the bathroom, its transformative
effect was clear. The couple then decided they wanted the
same effect on top of the central staircase.
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