A modern house with a wooden exterior, set against a backdrop of trees, during sunset. The house has a gravel pathway and a small patch of grass with flowers in the foreground.

Conifers

Bungalow Remodel & Extension

  • Location: Ingham, Suffolk

    Project status: Planning approved
    (Click here for planning application documents and drawings)

  • Fen Studio Architects were appointed in 2020 by the owners of The Conifers to remodel and extend the existing bungalow to create a contemporary, thermally efficient family home tailored to their lifestyle and long-term needs.

    Located in the Suffolk countryside, the proposal carefully reimagines the existing dwelling through a combination of sustainable retrofit measures, contemporary extensions and improved internal spatial planning. The design approach sought to create a more private and functional arrangement for family life while strengthening the relationship between the house, garden and surrounding landscape.

    The entrance arrangement was reconfigured so that the eastern bedroom wing became a quieter and more private area of the home, accessed via a dedicated hallway serving the bedrooms and bathroom. The new entrance sequence then opens directly into a large south-facing living space at the centre of the dwelling. A contemporary extension to the west elevation creates a more intimate and enclosed master bedroom suite.

    The clients, both keen skateboarders, were eager for an element of fun and individuality to be reflected within the architecture. This playful approach influenced both the building form and external landscaping strategy, which incorporated an integrated skate ramp and external hard landscaping that visually flows into the dwelling through a floating screed floor finish. The dynamic saw-toothed roofscape further reinforces this playful architectural language while also referencing the angular forms of the original bungalow roof.

    To improve the environmental performance of the home, the existing and new elements of the building were thermally wrapped using external wood fibre insulation, alongside new high-performance aluminium framed glazing to improve airtightness and energy efficiency. The dwelling is externally clad in vertical larch cladding and topped with a standing seam metal roof to create a restrained contemporary material palette suited to its rural setting.

    Renewable technologies including an air source heat pump and integrated photovoltaic array were also incorporated to support the home’s low-energy strategy and reduce operational carbon use.

The Existing Dwelling

Conifers – Existing brick bungalow in Suffolk prior to contemporary remodel and timber extension works
Conifers – Existing ground floor plan of bungalow before contemporary extension and internal remodelling in Suffolk
Conifers – Existing rear elevation drawing of Suffolk bungalow prior to timber-clad extension and renovation
Conifers – Existing front elevation drawing of Suffolk bungalow prior to timber-clad extension and renovation

The Extension & Remodel

Conifers – Proposed ground floor plan showing contemporary bungalow remodel and timber extension in Suffolk
Conifers – Proposed front and rear elevation drawings showing contemporary timber-clad bungalow remodel and extension in Suffolk
Conifers – Rear view of contemporary timber-clad bungalow extension with large aluminium sliding doors and standing seam roof in Suffolk
Conifers – Rear view of contemporary timber-clad bungalow extension with large aluminium sliding doors and standing seam roof in Suffolk
Conifers – Close-up architectural photograph of vertical timber cladding, aluminium glazing and landscaped pathway on contemporary Suffolk bungalow extension
Conifers – Close-up architectural photograph of vertical timber cladding, aluminium glazing and landscaped pathway on contemporary Suffolk bungalow extension
Conifers – Architectural detail collage showing timber cladding, aluminium window reveals, rainwater goods and landscaping details on contemporary Suffolk bungalow remodel
Conifers – Contemporary timber-clad bungalow extension with large aluminium glazing and landscaped planting in Suffolk
Conifers – Recessed entrance detail with vertical timber cladding and aluminium rainwater goods on contemporary Suffolk bungalow remodel
Conifers – Rear elevation view of contemporary timber-clad bungalow remodel and extension with aluminium glazing in Suffolk
Conifers – Contemporary lounge interior with large aluminium sliding doors overlooking landscaped garden at timber-clad Suffolk bungalow extension
Conifers – Contemporary kitchen interior with island and full-height aluminium glazing overlooking landscaped garden in Suffolk bungalow remodel
Conifers – Front approach view of contemporary timber-clad bungalow remodel with landscaped gravel driveway in Suffolk
Conifers – Contemporary recessed entrance with vertical timber cladding and aluminium rainwater goods on Suffolk bungalow extension
Conifers – Rear courtyard view of contemporary timber-clad bungalow extension in Suffolk with glazed living spaces and rain-soaked patio at dusk

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