Long Gable is a two-storey extension to an inter-war Arts and Crafts house in Cheam, Surrey. The project creates additional living and bedroom accommodation while preserving the character and balanced composition of the original home.

The challenge of the project was to add a substantial new volume without overwhelming the existing house or adversely affecting its neighbours. Rather than treating the extension as an independent object, its form was carefully modelled in response to the geometry of the original building. The long sloping roof and gable continue the established pattern of pitched forms, creating a clear relationship between old and new.

The design draws on the formal language of the Arts and Crafts movement through its emphasis on roof form, material character and domestic scale. These ideas are interpreted in a contemporary way rather than reproduced as pastiche. Brickwork, roof tiles and other external materials have been selected to complement the tones and textures of the existing house, allowing the extension to feel comfortably embedded within its setting.

The scale and position of the new volume were also carefully considered in relation to neighbouring properties. Its mass is contained beneath the sloping roof, while the placement of windows limits overlooking and directs views towards the garden and sky. This enables the interior to receive generous natural light without compromising the privacy or amenity of adjoining homes.

Internally, the roof form gives the new living spaces their character. The exposed rhythm of the structure creates a generous sense of height, while rooflights bring daylight deep into the plan. A restrained palette of pale surfaces, warm timber and softly textured materials reflects this light throughout the interior. Large openings establish a direct connection with the garden and allow the principal family spaces to feel open, calm and naturally illuminated.

Long Gable demonstrates how a carefully considered addition can increase the capacity of a house while remaining sensitive to its architectural origins. The extension is clearly contemporary, yet its proportions, materials and roofscape allow it to sit naturally alongside the original Arts and Crafts home.