Writer's Red

Writer’s Red is a 2.5m wide two storey side extension to a 1950s house on a quiet residential street. The additional space provides a larger kitchen, a utility room, a guest bedroom suite and a double-height study for the owner, a scriptwriter. The extension is of a simple, contemporary design to demarcate it from the existing house. The ruby red external material palette is both bold and respectful of the existing house.

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The first floor and roof structure were constructed in timber frame enabling a relatively lightweight construction utilising natural wood fibre insulation as part of the build-up. The fibre cement cladding panels have a low energy use and water consumption in its manufacture. The cladding is designed to last 50+ years with low maintenance requirements and is fully recyclable.

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The proposal relocated the study to the rear to exploit the north light and views of the surrounding green space. The room has since affectionately taken on the name ‘the tree house’ and provides a snug, quiet yet tall and lofty space, slowly being filled with books and written material forming an impressive timber clad backdrop for the scriptwriter’s many online meetings.