Jessiefield, Didsbury
Jessiefield, a 1937 house in south Manchester, had not been touched since the 1980s and was ready for a thoughtful, comprehensive transformation. What followed was a project shaped by care, craft and a deep respect for the original architecture, balanced with a confident contemporary extension that expanded the home for modern living.
The outdated garage was removed to make way for substantial side and rear extensions containing a games room, wine cellar, cinema room, utility room, double garage and a twelve metre swimming pool with an adjoining gym. These new spaces form a deliberate contrast to the untouched 1930s house, contemporary in expression yet crafted with the same attention to detail that defines the original building.
The extensive loft was converted to create an additional storey, complete with a new rear gable and projecting balcony to maximise views and light. At the front, a larger porch was introduced, carefully detailed in red brick and clay tiles to echo the existing architecture and restore a sense of presence that had been lost over decades of inactivity.
The contrast between old and new is intentional and clearly articulated. Extensions closest to the original house adopt its proportions and materiality, while the rear extension embraces a more modern language. Its lower eaves height and brick construction nod to the 1930s form, while the shallow standing seam metal roof and steeply pitched lantern bring a contemporary clarity. Tall, slim openings align with the lantern to frame views of the garden, and a fully glazed elevation opens the pool to the landscape beneath a protective canopy formed by the extended roof.
A slender glazed link separates the new extension from the original house, creating a clear visual break between the two architectural styles and allowing each to be appreciated on its own terms.
Every element of Jessiefield was designed and executed with care, from the brickwork to the metal roof, from the lantern to the glazed link. The result is a home that honours its 1930s character while embracing a confident contemporary addition, united by craft, detail and a clear architectural vision.
