Architect Rob Pollard and wife Emma have transformed a poky 1970s house, giving themselves twice the space for their growing family.
Architect Rob Pollard and wife Emma were on the hunt for a project when they viewed a three-bedroom 1970s home near Rye in East Sussex. The location, tucked down a track in the centre of a village, was ideal and Rob had visions of creating a sleek and boxy four-bedroom timber-clad property.
Rob said…
“We lived in the original building for two years before work began and our ideas developed over that period. The original building was a series of rooms but they were all very small and dark. Our plan was to knock them through downstairs to open up the space. We removed the pitched roof and added an entirely new first-floor structure on top of the original walls before cladding it all. It was a cost-effective way to essentially double the space we had.
“It was quite a stressful project because I was two years into setting up my new architecture practice, RX Architects, when it began, we had a toddler and Emma then fell pregnant, which all added to the pressure of getting the project done not only how we wanted, but on time and on budget.
“Fortunately, the builder was someone we had known professionally and personally for many years, so we knew we were in good hands.”
Emma said…
“We bought the house with the intention of doing a project – we saw it as a blank canvas. We wanted something we could add some value and personality to, creating something specifically for us.
“The process marked some real milestones in our lives. We were visiting the project with Olivia during her toddlerhood and before long we were walking around the site with me pregnant and getting bigger by the day! It was wonderful being able to move back in as a family of four. The project makes us reminisce about our family growing more than the build itself.
“For us, moving out and renting was essential. When you are living on site during a project it can take over and become all-consuming so it’s good to have some distance from it. It also helps reduce stress levels of what is always already a fraught process. The costs involved with renting are undoubtedly no more than the extra costs of builders having to work around you and take longer doing the work.”
“Our favourite part of the house though is the open-plan space overlooking the garden. It works so well for us as a young family.”
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