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Adaptations and alterations to a private dwelling to provide accommodation for a family and their disabled daughter.

Arborfield was bought specifically to be extended and adapted for a teenage girl who uses a wheelchair. Cowan Architects were engaged to design a scheme to provide an open-plan layout with an accommodation suite that would allow both parental contact and a degree of independence for the future.

An extension was designed to provide a hydrotherapy pool adjacent to her suite and a second extension allowed the planning of an accessible kitchen. A fully accessible bathroom with a rise and fall bath was installed. Extensive structural alterations allowed the creation of a spacious living area, with the kitchen, lounge and dining areas being unified to the benefit of wheelchair access. In all, the area was increased by about a third to nearly 400m². The property was completely rewired and a new heating system incorporating solar panels was installed. The thermal performance of the property was enhanced with new windows, doors and insulation.

The open, level nature of the site allowed the garden to be redesigned to meet the girls’ growing horticultural interests with the formation of raised planting beds and extensive accessible pathways.