Longmead Avenue: A Modest Extension with a Bright Idea

Longmead Avenue is a residential project in Bristol comprising a single-storey rear extension, loft conversion and transformation of an existing garage into a studio.

The clients approached Green Trace Architect looking for a thoughtful and sustainable way to improve their home.

From the outset, we aimed to use timber wherever practical, reducing embodied carbon while bringing warmth and character to the finished spaces.

The project began with a concept and feasibility study, allowing us to develop the brief, explore the opportunities presented by the existing house and consider the planning and site constraints. We also provided an early indication of likely construction costs before progressing through planning and technical design.

One of the defining features of the rear extension is the high-level clerestory glazing. Set beneath an external canopy, the windows bring daylight deep into the plan while the overhang helps control summer solar gain.

The glazing uses a technique known as direct glazing. Rather than conventional framed windows, individual triple-glazed units are fitted directly between the timber structural elements. Exposed glulam rafters and posts form the structural grid internally, while timber cover boards secure the glass externally, with expanding sealing tapes providing weathertight and airtight junctions.

The rafters continue down into slender glulam posts, supporting the roof and framing the glazing while creating a clear visual rhythm within the extension. Instead of concealing the structure, the timber forms an important part of the finished interior.

A separate external timber structure forms the canopy. Keeping this outside the thermal envelope reduces thermal bridging while providing shading and shelter. Visually, the structure appears to continue through the glazed wall, helping soften the boundary between house and garden.

Longmead Avenue reflects a typical Green Trace Architect project: practical, sustainable and modest in scale, with carefully considered details that give the completed home a distinct identity.