Large and Expansive House Exterior Ideas and Designs

The front entrance of Making Place House features slim aluminium windows integrated into the contemporary architectural design. These carefully detailed openings allow natural light into the home while maintaining a clean, modern appearance that complements the rural West Yorkshire setting.

The stunning new build coastal property was designed by OB Architecture, Winchester.

Jamie’s Farm helps to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people through therapeutic residential farm stays. Holiday lets at weekends to help fund their charitable work. We were appointed to help our client realise an ambitious project to convert and extend their new 200-acre, 17th Century, Grade 2 Listed farmstead close to Bath. A hard-fought planning and listed building consent was achieved for this beautiful, listed 17th Century farmhouse and outbuildings in Lower Shockerwick in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belt on the outskirts of Bath. Proposals included a change of use, extensions to the listed farmhouse, extensive repairs and restoration work and conversion of a wagon shed to offices We won these consents at a planning committee hearing with unanimous approval. In addition, we gained planning and listed building approval for conversion to residential of an adjoining threshing barn, to enable its swift sale. This was aided by an historic consent that we had to prove had been enabled by drainage works, smoothing the way for consent for an updated conversion. We have subsequently been appointed by the new owners to help them realise the project. There were many challenges to the main farm works, including the discovery that the timber in the building was riddled with death watch beetle, resulting in significant repairs to timber structures being required, the main roof had to be rebuilt entirely. The lower ground floor cellars were home to several rare species of bat, so significant protection and mitigations works were required. Extending the farmhouse also required some ingenuity, Jamie’s Farm required a very large kitchen/dining area for communal cooking and eating, a steep site and no land adjacent to the raised existing kitchen meant lead us to propose a 1st floor extension carefully oversailing an ancient washroom/kitchen and bread oven which now nestles beneath the new building.

Front entrance approach which also serves as a south facing garden. Raised brick beds with large fronded plants to create height and interest and be seen from inside.

Seahorses is a stunning new home near Falmouth enjoying magnificent panoramic views of the south coast seascape. Sitting on the clifftops within an AONB, the house and gardens occupy a gently sloping site that connects with the adjacent South West Coastal Path. The context and terrain of the surrounding landscape informed the design and an imaginative and ambitious solution to site levels was crucial to the success of the scheme. As a result, the completed house is lower than the original, thus creating privacy for the occupants whilst still respecting neighbouring homes. The split-level, linear design is carefully organised around a spine wall of local granite that runs from the exterior of the building through the interior. This arrangement allows the living areas and bedrooms to connect with the landscape and integrate seamlessly with outdoor spaces. A mix of grasses, sedum and indigenous coastal plants on the green roof help to embed the building into its surroundings. The palette of natural materials creates a layered, permeable effect on the exterior, which will season with time and weather, thereby allowing it to assimilate into its coastal setting. Of equal importance was landscaping, which was integral to the design intent. With thoughtful positioning of the new dwelling, significant areas of mature and established planting were protected and retained. Photograph: Elliott White Photography

House Exterior

Client’s brief A modern replacement dwelling designed to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings while prioritizing high-quality design and sustainability. It is crafted to preserve the site's openness through clever landscape integration, minimizing its environmental impact. The dwelling provides five bedrooms, five bathrooms, an open-plan living arrangement, two studies, reception/family areas, utility, storage, and an integral double garage. Furthermore, the dwelling also includes a guest house with two bedrooms and one bathroom, as well as a pool house/leisure facility. Programme The original 72-week programme was extended due to COVID and lockdown. Following lockdown, there were issues with supplies and extra works were requested by the clients (tennis court, new landscape, etc.). It took around two years to complete with extra time allocated for the landscaping. Materials The construction of the building is based on a combination of traditional and modern techniques. Structure: reinforced concrete + steel frame External walls: concrete block cavity walls clad in natural stone (bonded). First floor has areas of natural stone ventilated facade. Glazing: double glazing with solar protection coating and aluminium frames. Roof and terraces: ceramic finish RAF system Flooring: timber floor for Sky Lounge and Lower Ground Floor. Natural stone for Upper Ground Floor and ceramic tiles for bathrooms. Landscape and access: granite setts and granite stepping stones. Budget constraints The original project had to be adjusted which implied some value engineering and redesign of some areas including removing the pond, heated pool, AC throughout. How the project contributes to its environment Due to the sensitive location within the Metropolitan Green Belt, we carefully considered the scale and massing to achieve less impact than that of the existing. Our strategy was to develop a proposal which integrates within the setting. The dwelling is built into the landscape, so the lower ground floor level is a partial basement opening towards the rear, capturing downhill views over the site. The first-floor element is offset from the external envelope, reducing its appearance. The dwelling adopts a modern flat roof design lowering the roof finish level and reducing its impact. The proposed material palette consists of marble and limestone; natural material providing longevity. Marble stone finishes the lower ground floor levels, meeting the landscape. The upper ground floor has a smooth limestone finish, with contemporary architectural detailing. The mirror glazed box on top of the building containing the Sky Lounge appears as a lighter architectural form, sitting on top of the heavier, grounded form below and nearly disappearing reflecting the surrounding trees and sky. The project aims to minimize waste disposal by treating foul water through a treatment plant and discharging surface water back to the ground. It incorporates a highly efficient Ground Source Heat Pump system that is environmentally friendly, and the house utilizes MVHR to significantly reduce heat loss. The project features high-spec insulation throughout to minimize heat loss. Experience of occupants The clients are proud of the house, the fantastic design (a landmark in the area) and the everyday use of the building.

Like many 1920s houses, this double-fronted home in Muswell Hill had been extended haphazardly over the years, preventing any natural flow and blocking light from a large part of the footprint. Our clients wanted more space – and better space – for their family. Our first move was to unlock the ground floor by clearing two sight lines. One leads straight through the house from the front door to the bottom of the garden, and the second looks up – with the help of a new galleried staircase – though the upper storeys to the sky. Inspired by Horace Gifford’s airy east-coast beach houses, we allowed the extended open-plan living areas to link and overlap, giving room to circulate without compromising on space. We’d already set out these core moves when our clients asked us to push the project further. Could we add a basement too? Our response was to challenge them back: what exactly would they use the space for, and how would the extra area justify the considerable expense? Having tested a few different scenarios we all agreed that this was a great opportunity to embed social sustainability into the design. We could future-proof the house so Nicola and Stanford, and their extended family, can continue to live in it indefinitely no matter how their lifestyle might change. The new basement, although it’s currently used as a gym, screening room and bar, can potentially become a self-contained apartment in the future, allowing multiple generations to live under the same roof. It has its own bathroom and, via a sunken courtyard garden sandwiched between the original house and timber-framed extension, outside space and plenty of natural light. And, as the couple’s sons gain more independence, a pair of self-contained bedrooms inserted into the second-floor loft space offer a similar degree of privacy.

A stunning example of modern residential architecture, this contemporary home features clean lines, dramatic design and expansive glass elements. Surrounded by large grass areas, the landscape enhances the home’s bold presence, allowing it to stand as a true statement piece. Perfect inspiration for those seeking striking yet timeless contemporary home design.

Sussex waterfront contemporary. This amazing contemporary family home is located on the waterfront in an area of outstanding natural beauty overlooking the harbour. The design has developed as a response to the location and to take advantage of views over the sea, countryside, and adjoining meadows. Every element of the architecture and interiors has been considered to maximise both form and function – beautiful contemporary design and practicality tailored to the client’s aesthetic sensibilities and lifestyle. The home features the use of Danish brick, cedar timber and a zinc roof all in a natural palette of materials on the exterior and neutral design scheme on the interiors using sustainable and natural materials. The gardens have been designed to maximise the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces and include wildflower meadows, and soft and hard landscaping. A fabric first approach to sustainability has been used and the design allows for natural light to penetrate the building while considering shading and thermal gain. The interiors have been developed around functionality while employing a clean modern design and the use of warm natural materials. A true dream home with dream clients!

Rear of house built into hillside with water fall and first floor garden courtyard.

Awarded Australia’s Best Display Home 2022 by MBA, Sanctuary has been crafted to be a modern luxurious haven. Latitude 37’s custom design and construction capability is showcased on a grand scale.

This large property on a good-sized plot in Hove was largely imbalanced internally and was made up of a mix of added external elements. The client’s brief was to modernise the property throughout and adapting the internal arrangement to suit their family needs. A two-storey rear extension replaced two former single storey extensions and expressed the clients’ attitude to contemporary living. A small porch structure was added to the front of the property to enhance the prominent chimney feature and to create a more welcoming entrance. Finding the balance between the traditional nature of the existing building and the modern aesthetic desired by the client for the new additions proved to be a key design challenge. It was important to remain sympathetic of the old but not to allow this to diminish the potential of the project. The front porch was an important part of the design as it allowed us to introduce the contemporary aesthetic early in the journey through the building, indicating something even more modern was still to come.

Rear brick extension with three large sliding glass doors

A calm and neutral study designed for a family home in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Soft tones, elegant furnishings and considered details create a peaceful work-from-home space that feels refined, practical and beautifully understated. Designed as part of a luxury interior design project, the room offers a quiet, organised setting for focus, reading and everyday productivity.