You have probably seen it: two houses on the same street, both extended at the back, but one looks perfectly integrated into the original house while the other looks as if it was stuck onto it.

While the size and budget for the two projects may be different, the true difference lies in the thought that was put into each project.

To build an extension to a house successfully, you must understand the house that it is going to join. This does not mean that the two buildings should look the same but rather that they should have some relationship to one another – perhaps in their use of similar materials, scales or roofs.

Proportion is particularly important. An extension that is too tall, too wide or in the wrong position relative to the house will make the house look unbalanced. But getting the proportion of an extension correct can make it appear larger than it is.

Then there is light. Good extension designs consider how natural light enters the home. Large areas of glass are good, but placing windows in specific locations can provide similar benefits to larger areas of glass. For Residential Architects London, visit https://www.rbddesign.com/architects-design/residential-architecture-london/

Materials also matter in design decisions. However, the materials that match the originals of a space do not necessarily create harmony within that space. In some cases, contrast between elements creates a better design than harmony with the original materials.

Finally, an extension will look right when it is felt to be a natural progression of the house itself. The addition should add to the house rather than make the existing building appear to have been forgotten.

It’s more than just drawing a larger floor plan. It takes an understanding of the relationship between architecture, light, proportion, materials, and life in general.