Gatti House: Contemporary Extension to a Historic Brick Home

Upgrading a traditional home with a modern extension demands sensitivity and precision. That challenge becomes even more delicate when the house is a cherished family residence with a classic brick exterior. The Gatti House retains the comforting presence of a bygone era while embracing thoughtful contemporary interventions that enhance daily living without erasing the building’s historical character.

The renovation and extension were carried out by Adam Knibb Architects. Throughout the project the original brick façade was respected and largely preserved, so the home’s historic face remains intact. The new additions focus on the rear of the house, where a carefully considered modern volume and a series of outdoor decks extend the living areas into the garden, creating a generous, light-filled family zone that feels both relaxed and refined.

At the heart of the addition is an open but defined arrangement for the kitchen and dining areas. Large sliding glass doors open directly onto the wooden decks, visually and physically blurring the line between inside and out while inviting abundant natural light into the interior. The dining space is composed in a calm wood-and-white palette; timber finishes, natural textures and a simple material scheme keep the interior warm and timeless. Smart timber fin partitions subtly delineate the dining area from the kitchen, creating a cozy, enclosed feeling for meals without closing off the plan.

The kitchen was opened up to create a roomy, practical core with generous storage and circulation. This open-plan arrangement supports family life and entertaining while the timber fins and a wood burner in the dining area form a snug, intimate atmosphere when desired. The result balances the desire for flexible social space with the comfort of smaller, hearth-centered gathering zones.

Outside, the extension steps down to a series of decks and terraces that connect directly to the lawn and planting. These outdoor rooms extend the usable living area through spring and summer and frame views back to the house. The decks are finished in pale, painted tones that sit lightly beside the original brickwork, giving the rear elevation a contemporary, cohesive presence when viewed from the garden.

“The kitchen will be opened up to give a more spacious area with lots of storage, that leads the user to the proposed dining room, which has been separated by timber fin partitions that create a sense of enclosure in the dining room creating a snug environment together with the wood burner.”

Interior details carry the same restrained, human-centered approach. A contemporary bathroom uses a complementary palette of wood, white and gray to create a calm, tactile space that sits comfortably within the renewed home. Throughout, materials are chosen for their warmth, durability and ability to age gracefully alongside the original brickwork.

Photography for the project was completed by Martin Gardner, documenting how the new architecture respects the original house while providing practical, beautiful spaces for modern family life. The design plan and images together show a considered response to context: preserving the period charm of the brick façade, while adding contemporary, well-proportioned living areas that celebrate light, material and connection to the garden.

The Gatti House project demonstrates how a sensitive contemporary extension can celebrate heritage while making a home more usable, comfortable and connected to its landscape. By leaving the brick façade largely untouched, using a restrained material palette and designing indoor-outdoor transitions with clarity, the architects achieved a modern family home that honors its past and works beautifully for the present.