Mellor Architect’s innovative design transforms a 1950s house into a light and spacious modern family home
In 2009, the Byrne family purchased a traditional brick-built 1950s detached home for their growing family. They loved the size and location of the house, but quickly realised that the layout of the house didn't suit their needs.
Mellor Architects was commissioned to develop ideas that would alter the layout of the existing house to provide extra living space including a cloakroom and garden room on the ground floor. On the first floor there was to be the addition of an en suite bathroom to the master bedroom and the creation of a large family bathroom by combining the existing bathroom and separate WC. The brief also called for some storage space within the existing attic and suggestions to refresh and modernise the external appearance to the front and rear of the home.
Lindsay Oram of Mellor Architects explains: “The original Byrne home was built in a design style which was popular during the late 1950s. Our challenge was come up with a solution that would successfully transform a dated detached house into a modern, light and airy family home within a fixed budget.
“We immediately saw the potential to create a modern design solution that would work with the existing architectural features rather than fight against them. One of these was the pre-cast concrete window surrounds which were a common feature in homes built in the 1950s. We felt that saving these allowed them to become a transitional material between new and existing elements.
The project took nine months from start to finish, and for the last two months, the family lived in the house while the renovations were being completed.
Since the project’'s completion, the Byrne family has enjoyed living in their transformed home. “Living in the house is a real joy,” said Tracy Byrne. “We all love it. It just works. We never imagined how much it could change our quality of life. We also really enjoyed the whole process of the design and build. Now we’ve had our minds opened to new possibilities, we’re actually considering looking into doing a new build from scratch. Naturally Lindsay and the Mellor Architects team will be an important part of those discussions.”
The project was featured in the ITV 1 lifestyle programme "May The Best House Win", showing the property in competition with three others in the Blackpool area ranging from a £2m house to more modest projects.
The remodelling for Mr and Mrs Byrne cost a modest £135,000 but provided exceptional value successfully transforming a standard post war suburban house into a stylish modern home with the wow factor.
