house extension case study

House Extensions

Scenario Architecture

House Extensions Introduction

Extending your home is a popular way to increase space and add value to your property. With the hassle and costs of moving house – from legal fees to stamp duty – the reasons to stay put and improve your existing home soon mount up.

But where do you start? We have compiled information about Home Extensions to help you make an informed decision.

House Extensions Top stories

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There are few world-class cities where you can own your own house and convert it for your needs, and none as exciting as London. The city’s rich stock of residential housing has great potential for improvement. If you already own property in the capital and can’t justify the costs of moving house, renovating and extending your existing property may be the right move for you. Best of all, you’ll be able to stay in the neighbourhood you know and love.

Strict planning regulations in neighbourhoods rich with heritage housing make house extensions a challenge for some. Seeking the help of an architect , rather than going directly to a standard-issue builder or home-extension specialist, means the specific character of your home will be respected, enhanced and unnecessary additional costs avoided. An architect will unlock potential and use materials in an original way that can complement your home’s historic appeal.

Once you’ve found an architect whose style and personality balance your own, the process of transforming your home will fall into place. Together you can collaborate on tailoring the original bones to your personal lifestyle with detailed specifications, starting from the party walls inward. Even if planning regulations are stringent in your neighbourhood, you’ll usually be able to extend outwards at least enough for an extra room or two – taken from wasted outdoor space, eaves in a pitched roof or awkward corners you didn’t even know you had.

You could extend a kitchen to incorporate an eat-in breakfast room, add an en-suite bathroom, a bedroom for a new child or a home office. In a neighbourhood with newer housing stock, like a London suburb or brownfield development, more involved house extensions may be possible, like wraparounds incorporating a side return and rear, a second storey, garage topper or double-height rear extension.

House extensions are carried out in a more compassionate way today than they’ve ever been, and a good architect will strive to preserve original architectural elements – like decorative cornicing, ceiling roses, skirting boards, dado rails and picture rails – while giving your home the modern openness so many desire. Pivoting doors and Crittall-style steel windows are brilliant complements to period decorations and antique brick.

Once you’ve committed to the process, a house extension will make additional changes easier and less cumbersome, like new sash windows, flooring or a fresh paint job. They could be done concurrently with the structural work, pull everything together and help you get a good-as-new home that works with your unique way of life.

“Extending your garage is also going to be a great time to touch up the areas you may have been neglecting. If you’ve purchased your home and are upgrading, you may find that after years of abuse the garage isn’t in the state you’d quite like it to be. Take your time to not only plan your garage extension properly, but seal your concrete , paint the walls and even consider adding air conditioning to make it a liveable space” – Roy, Hack My Garage.

House Extensions Links to articles about house extensions

House extensions your house extension project.

Scenario is a boutique architecture studio focused on improving homes with spacious, contemporary extension projects across London and beyond. Through our bespoke architecture service , we tackle projects of every scale and complexity, from modest single-storey extensions to side-return extensions project, basement extensions, loft extensions and rear house extensions project.

Our highly skilled architects can take you step-by-step through the challenge of building a house extension. We’ll collaborate closely with you from the initial drawings, detail design and planning, guiding you through the tender and construction process and completing your  extension on time and on budget.

Early adopters of the latest drafting and building technologies, we use innovative 3D design and visualisation tools as a standard for all our house extensions. Our experience has shown that real-time visualisations and virtual reality are extremely efficient tools for choosing finishes, fixtures and fittings, and simulating natural light.

We use 3D building information modelling (BIM) to produce reliable construction information, so all our project data comes from an accurate 3D model. Using this technology collaboratively with consultants and contractors is proven to save our clients time and money. This Chartered Institute of Building case study featuring a Scenario project demonstrates the benefits of this advanced technology for house-extension projects.

Scenario Architecture is a RIBA Chartered Practice . We comply with all the criteria of the Royal Institute of Chartered Architects, covering insurance, health and safety and quality-management systems.

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House Extensions House Extension Costs

Nearly any property you purchase in the southeast will retain or accrue value. When and if it turns out you need more living space, you’ll want any enhancements you make to the size of your home to enhance your asset, too.

A good architect will factor in your home’s location, layout, structural integrity and the size of your family to make your project work for you and your budget. A house extension cost shouldn’t cancel out the benefits of a house extension.

Unless your investment is a purpose-built flat, you should be able to gain extra space that suits your lifestyle. If you own just part of a house, you can build up, down or out, depending on your specific location. If you own the entire house, chances are better you can add substantial square metres.

In some neighbourhoods around London, loft extensions and side-return extensions (recouping the side-rear void often left open between terraced houses) are grouped under “permitted development”, which means they sometimes don’t require planning permission from the local council if the final plans heed the extended volume requirements of the area. Avoiding time-consuming planning applications will save you money in the short run.

On the topic of money: it’s always difficult to propose a house extension cost without evaluating the home in question, the resident family and their plans. But it’s likely you can nearly double the size of your home’s original square-metre floor area at a fraction of the cost of the original house. Plus you will, of course, gain a nearly new living space without paying the stamp duty and agents’ fees associated with moving house – although you may need to purchase renovations insurance.

As with most building-related activity, it is wise to source three to five quotes for a house extension. With a range of budgets to hand, you’ll be able to assess which seem low, high and just about right, and choose accordingly. The foundation, walls and roof will soak up about 15% of your costs, followed by Velux and rear glazing.

You’ll want to price fixtures, fittings, appliances and any upgraded materials separately, so as not to be shocked when you receive that last bill – new kitchens are particularly dear, so keep your eyes out for deals and floor sales in the months leading up to a project. Once you’ve agreed on a budget, set up a payment plan with your architect and builders that works for everyone.

The House Extension Cost varies and this will depend on the scale, design, exterior materials and interior finishes of your extension. Before designing an initial concept for our clients, we discuss their big-picture aspirations and daily requirements.

When we budget the House Extension Cost on any home, we must consider the different types of extensions projects. Extending upward with a loft extension, for example, is often significantly cheaper than a side-return extension and rear house extension and most definitely a basement extension.

We understand our clients’ desire to understand the cost of building an extension before committing to the process. For a single-storey extension – be it a side-return extension or rear house extension – we allow between £2,500 and £3,000 per square metre, depending on finishes. These figures can also apply to renovating the existing areas within a house.

Excavating a new basement is a great way to add significant floor space to your house with limited planning regulations. However the House Extension Cost per square metre is, by far, the highest in a basement. We allow between £3,000 and £3,500 per square metre, subject to finishes.

House Extensions Our services

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• Scenario based design – We start each and every project with a meticulous analysis of our client’s vision, requirements and aspirations. We do this by asking our clients to imagine their everyday scenarios living in the completed house and describe their desired interaction with it. 
• Uniquely interactive - Our client’s deep involvement in the process does not stop with completion of the brief. Our design meetings are highly interactive, informal and fun. 
• Designed to reflect you – Based purely on your lifestyle, aspirations and requirements and free from externally imposed concepts, metaphors and pre-conceptions, a completely fresh and unique design will gradually emerge and it will tell your story not ours. 

Who will be assigned to work on my project?

Which additional consultants are required for my project, what is scenario’s approach to planning.

• Collaborative – We start the conversation with planners early and advise most of our clients to seek pre-planning advice prior to submission of a full planning application. Our experience shows that when properly consulted and liaised with, most planning case officers will be receptive to conduct a professional dialogue, increasing chances of successes. 
• Strategic – We tailor a custom planning strategy for each project based on its circumstances such as planning history, local context and specific challenging elements. We sometimes split applications or introduce minor tweaks to the scheme during the consideration period in conversation with the officers to prevent one contentious element from jeopardising approval of the main scheme.
• Professional – Our experience shows that the quality and clarity of the submission in terms of background research, planning history of the property and context, precedent and of course the arguments presented to support the case has a tremendous effect on success rate. 

How long will it take to obtain planning permission for my project?

• The decision period clock only starts ticking once the application is validated by the Council, This requires then to check that the forms are completed correctly and that the submission contains all the necessary drawings, statements and reports.
• Although required by law to provide a decision within the statutory eight weeks period, it is not uncommon for councils to miss the deadline of the consideration period, normally only by a few days, sometimes longer. 
• In some cases the council may ask us as your agent for an extension of time, this may be requested due to internal reasons or as an acceptable result of a professional discussion that we are conducting with them about certain aspects of the application that they are not sure about.

What is pre-planning and will it be required for my project?

• Our experience shows that planning officers respond better to projects when they feel consulted and collaborated with. We find that when we truly listen to their often helpful and valid feedback and treat them as consultants for the projects and not representative of an evil enforcing authority, they tend to collaborate well with us and demonstrate increased flexibility.
• Although the council in theory have eight weeks to consider your application, in practice they are constantly overloaded. They will only look at your application in the last few days of the consideration period. If this is the first time that they come across a scheme that they were never consulted about, our chance to secure permission for you in a single attempt is significantly compromised.
• The standard practice is for the council to consider the full planning application as submitted and then issue a yes or no decision. Case officers are not required or even encouraged to enter a discussion with us or accept resubmission of minor changes to the proposed scheme during the consideration period.

What is Scenario’s approach to sustainability?

What is building control and is it required for my project, what is the cost of building an extension, what is the cost of an internal refurbishment, what is the cost of building a new house, what is the fee structure used by scenario architecture, house extensions house extension rules made permanent to cut ‘time-consuming red tape’.

The UK government has confirmed that house extensions’ rules will now be permanent to cut out ‘time-consuming red tape’. With this decision, homeowners should find it much easier and faster to extend their homes without having to jump through any unnecessary hoops.

Some rules of extending a house are:

• The extension should only be single storey
• The outcome should resemble the property
• The extension should be less than half the width of the original property

After the government declared that interim regulations would be made permanent, homeowners will continue building massive house additions without full planning approval.

Kit Malthouse, the housing minister, said the decision would allow people to expand their homes without dealing with ‘time-consuming red tape.’

‘By making this authorised development right permanent, families will be able to expand without having to relocate,’ he explained.

Since 2014, more than 110,000 extensions have been completed under the previously temporary regulations. According to the survey, a ‘reasonable’ price would be paid for prior permissions for house extensions, a type of light-touch planning application used for authorised construction.

This latest PD has brought mixed reactions from different people. Although, for example, Ben Edgley said that he understood the new changes were made with great intentions, there was a concern on the loss of control concerning the quality of design.

He further claimed, “PD conditions provide a clear framework for creating extensions, but skipping the planning process will affect the design leading to poor quality schemes.”

Even so, Eugene Kim, the managing director of London-based Extension Architecture, who has been filing about 300 planning applications for rear expansions every year, believes the regulation will speed up projects, noting that even basic applications take a long time to process.

‘You will find that over 70% of clients are unaware that a simple planning process takes three to four weeks to prepare and two weeks to validate,’ he added. The LPA then has eight or more weeks to make a decision.’

The allowed development right, according to Kim, will help harmonise methods across multiple planning authorities since different municipalities presently interpret standards differently.

While the change might get regarded as good, Darren Bray, director of Southampton-based Studio B.a.d Architects, believes it could lead to some bizarre, quirky, and plain crazy suggestions.’

‘Even when it comes to a minor home addition, I usually acquire chapter and verse from the local authorities. and even hire a planning consultant so that we can respond sympathetically and contextually.’

‘Over the last 25 years, the UK has gotten littered with UPVC conservatories, and I fear that we are seeing a systematic and formulaic reaction from prospective non-architects and firms offering a prefab type answer to this, rather than a design-led sensitive approach.’

According to the Local Government Association (LGA), permitted development laws are robbing local communities of their freedom to determine the environment in which they live.

‘While we recognise that building additions under allowed development have been popular with homeowners, the planning process exists for a purpose,’ said Councillor Martin Tett.

The new allowed development right was announced as part of a broader package of planning amendments that also included looser regulations for converting retail spaces into offices. It comes after a government survey on the proposed legislative change, which sought input on various initiatives, including rooftop expansions and, more controversially, the demolition of workplaces and their replacement with houses.

Although more than half of respondents were opposed to permitting rooftop additions without planning approval, the administration has said that the regulation would be implemented. Despite considerable resistance to plans to allow for the demolition of workplaces and their replacement with houses, the administration indicated it was still considering adopting the regulation.

The RIBA called the idea to demolish the offices “both shocking and perplexing,” saying, “We firmly believe that quantity cannot be accomplished at the price of quality.” Because of concerns about the quality of office-to-residential conversions, the government’s distribution of approved development rights has been heavily criticised. Most people are not with this idea thus the negative comments now and then.

In 2021, Labour vowed to close a loophole in the planning system that it claimed allowed developers to skirt affordable housing rules and build slum housing.’

How does the public take advantage of this opportunity? People who want to build a new house need more space but do not have the money. This is good because now people can go down their street and see if they know anybody that needs an extension done on their home or ask around in town, which will speed up projects. But, on the other hand, it might be not good because some people may not have the funds for this and may feel pressured into doing it.

It’s not great that these laws are stripping communities of their ability to determine what they want in a neighbourhood because there is no need for people to build on specific properties, making some parts look nicer than others. It’s also bad because developers will be able to produce hideous houses.

To avoid getting caught out by any changes, homeowners should make sure their plans get drawn up by an architect or registered building surveyor who is qualified to advise on planning and building regulations.

The government has made permanent changes to planning law, allowing homeowners in England and Wales to extend their homes without first having to go through a costly process of seeking permission from council planners. These new laws have been designed to cut out time-consuming bureaucracy, making it easier for homeowners who want an extension or loft conversion.

Planning experts say that these measures will benefit young families looking to buy their first house. It will also benefit those who do not have enough money saved to buy a home. If you’re considering adding space to your property for various reasons, take a look at this article on how those plans can affect your mortgage options before you make any decisions! It is better to be safe than sorry. As a member of the public, take this chance to expand your home for better living. If the conditions are favourable, why not?

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Home > News > Case Study: Single Storey Extension

Case Study: Single Storey Extension

What do you need to do to transform your home? Space is the key, and getting more of it will provide the means to make your home different. Plus, the overall cost, when compared to moving, is generally going to be cheaper, especially if you’re looking at increasing the size of your property.

The single storey extension is an ideal way to extend your property: generally, the designing and planning are straightforward, and in terms of adding value to a property, increased living space tends to work more in your favour than, say, increasing bedroom space.

The important thing is to think about how you will want to use your extension to get the most out of it and improve your lifestyle – the added value aspect is a bonus. Here, we look at the issues around single storey extensions, and we zoom in on a case study : a single storey extension we completed for a client in Molesey, Elmbridge.

Begin at the End

Work backwards here, by first thinking about what you want to achieve with your single storey extension. What will you use it for? Some people want more kitchen space, or an area they can use as an office. Understanding the function of your space from the start will help in how you then design and build it.

This will inform decisions such as flooring and heating, and windows. Your single storey extension may open out onto the garden, in which case you might want doors you can open wide in the summer. Will you extend your existing central heating system or opt for underfloor heating?

When getting professional support from your architect, you will want to discuss these various aspects of your new living space, and that’s where Extension Architecture’s experience and expertise really comes to the fore. 

Planning Permission

Not all developments require planning permission and, depending on the size and nature of your extension, you may be able to build onto your house under permitted development rights. This will also depend on whether you live in a conservation area, and what rules your local planning authority apply.

If you are planning a rear single storey and it won’t extend beyond three metres of your rear wall if your house is detached, then it should come under permitted development rights. For detached houses, the limit is four metres. There are other conditions, and permitted development rights are updated all the time, so always check with your architect.

You will also need planning permission if your extension covers half the area of land surrounding your home, or if you are using materials that are different from the original style of your home.

Steph Fanizza, Architectural Design & Team Manager

Tell us about your plan and we'll send you a free quote! It takes less than 60 seconds!

Our client wanted to be able to work from home with a more effective use of space. He required a more user-friendly environment with a dedicated area for his work.

Often the difficulty people find with working from home is marking the boundary between work and home life. To a certain extent this division, or the lack of it, is psychological, but clearly making physical adjustments to available living space will help resolve the issue.

The client’s home was a detached house in Molesey, Elmbridge. This area is a continuation of London’s built-up suburbs but has a conservation area and heathland.

The house currently has an existing rear extension, within which the client normally works from home. However, this is also currently a communal family space. The objective was to create a more private work area for the client while retaining the existing rear extension. The concept was to clearly define the boundaries of this new space while keeping it connected to the remainder of the house, in keeping with the client’s desire to be able to work privately, to be in the home but not at home.

Another key element of the brief was the proposed cost. The client was keen to work to a budget, which meant making the new rear extension economical but supremely functional.

Our Design Solution

We came up with a rear box extension. This was three metres square, with a width that would be half that of the house. The study area would be next to the dining room and would open out onto the garden with large, bi-folding doors.

This increases the sense of space and the amount of light in the study area, and means that our client, when using it, has the option of facing outwards, away from the domestic setting, onto the world outside, thereby aiding the sense of partition between work and home.

At the same time, we needed to preserve a sense of continuity between the existing house and the new box extension. We achieved this through the removal of certain structural elements such as ceiling beams, giving the impression of a seamless transition between one space and another. Obviously, the roof design of the single storey extension would be critical to the success of the design and the completed project, reiterating the continuity the client desired between the existing structure and the new, additional space.

The single storey extension may seem like a modest alteration to a home but, designed effectively, it can make a huge amount of difference to living space, punching well above its weight. Nevertheless, it’s vital to strike the right balance between gaining a striking new addition to an existing home and maintaining a sense of balance and equilibrium between what already exists and what you can add to it.

In this case, we recognised that the client’s need to gain privacy while not completely detaching himself from the day-to-day workings of the house itself, striking a clever balance between work and home with a seamless extended use of space.

Get In Touch

Do you want to start the process to transform your living space and create something new for your home? Talk to us and let us help you design the perfect extension for your home. We’re ready to listen to you.

Email us at [email protected] or phone 0203 409 4215 . On our website, you’ll also find a Request A Free Quote form , which you can send to us and we’ll get back to you right away.

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Eugene Kim, Founder and Managing Director of Extension Architecture, has led the firm for over 14 years, consistently delivering quality solutions. His dedication has been key to the company's growth and success.

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The types of house extensions: design and ideas

Explore different types of house extensions, including single-storey, side, over-structure extensions, plus much more!

If you need bigger living quarters but would rather not move out of your present home, you should consider adding an extension instead.

Adding an extension will save you the stress of house hunting and all the hassle that comes with moving into a new home. Opting for an extension also gives you complete autonomy to decide on the function of this extra space per your family’s needs.

There are numerous home extension ideas and design types to choose from. You could go for a side infill extension, if you’ve got some unused space at the side of your home, or opt for an over-structure extension, if extending your first floor if you want to keep your green space intact.

This post will explore different house extension designs and ideas, including…

Single storey extensions

• Double storey extensions
• Side infill extensions

Over-structure extensions

If you've already an idea of the extension you'd like, you can get a free Resi quote here.

Single storey extensions are made up of one level and are usually added to the rear or side of the property - or both, in the case of wraparounds.

They're an ideal way to create valuable extra space in your home. With a single storey extension, you can expand your kitchen to include a dining area and living space. You can also create additional rooms such as a utility room, home office, or ground floor guest bedroom.

There are many options in terms of style and design that can completely change the exterior of your house. You can opt for bi-folding doors to help connect the house to the garden so that cool air floods the space on hot days.

Over-structure extensions are built over the top of an existing structure, most commonly a garage, and are great when you want to extend your home but would like to preserve your garden space. They also are an excellent way to extend your first floor and can be used to add an extra bathroom, a study, a utility room, or a lounge.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that, as the name suggests, this kind of project requires a lot of structural calculations. You’ll not only need to worry about your extension, but an engineer will need to make sure the structure below can carry the extra weight. These technical hurdles can, therefore, impact the price.

Two storey extensions

Two storey extensions allow you to extend upwards of what would normally be a single storey extension. They provide you with double the living space of a single storey and can be built at the back or side of the house.

Double storey extensions are surprisingly cost-effective, as the cost per square metre tends to be lower than their single storey counterpart. Of course, most two-storey extensions tend to be quite sizeable, so though you’ll get more space for your budget, this will still need a sizeable investment.

Alongside this, thanks to 2020 permitted development changes, you may not need a full planning application provided you build within permitted development criteria.

Rear extensions

Just as their name implies, rear extensions are situated at the back of your property, extending onto your existing garden or courtyard. They’re mostly used to create larger open living spaces and blend the indoor/outdoor space.

Side return extensions

You can put the pathways running down the sides of your home to good use by constructing a side return extension .

Side return extensions (also referred to as side infills) allow you to transform the unused alley-away space into a much-desired living area. They are a fantastic way to extend your home, utilise wasted space, and improve your overall living experience.

With side returns, you can make productive use of dead space and still retain your garden area. You’ll enjoy not only a bigger kitchen but also a brighter, lighter open living space.

Wraparound extensions

Wraparound extensions combine a side return and rear extension to form an 'L-shape' at the back of your property.

It is most commonly suitable for Victorian terraced homes , due to the presence of alleyways, but can also be used for modern homes, if space is available.

They're excellent for extending your living area and creating substantial open plan layouts, opening up your kitchen area to allow space for new rooms while improving your connection to your garden.

Though wraparound extensions will likely require a full planning application, you shouldn't let that put you off. The planning application doesn't have to be a scary process, especially if you have an experienced designer by your side. Professional advice and guidance will go a long way in easing the process and increasing your chances of being approved on your first try.

You should discuss your project with a Resi expert. Our in-house planning team can help you handle your planning application from start to finish. We’ll put together the necessary drawings and everything else you need to increase your chances of being approved on your first application.

Dormer extensions

If you’ve unused space in your attic, then a dormer extension might just be perfect for you.

A dormer extension removes the roof’s pitch and creates a flat roof in line with the top of the already existing pitch. Thanks to this, you get a box space perfect for a master bedroom with ensuite bathrooms or additional room for the kids’ bedroom or playroom.

These extensions usually come under your permitted development rights, hence you may be able to forego needing a full planning application. Not only this, these types of loft conversions are an affordable way of creating a whole new storey of space.

Basement and cellar conversion

If you need more space and have a basement or cellar, then a basement conversion should top your list. This type of extension is particularly popular in densely packed areas like London.

Although the extra room can considerably boost the value of your home, it can be pretty costly - especially if you plan on retrofitting additional space.

We recommend you weigh the extension’s cost against the ceiling price for similar homes in your neighbourhood. This way, you can be sure you won't be running at a loss if you ever decide to sell your home.

Orangery extensions

Orangeries combine elements of a conservatory with that of traditional extensions. They’re usually designed with brick-made pillars and raised glass roof structures that flood the inside space with natural light, making it feel more open-plan than the average extension.

They’re versatile, can be used as a dining room, playroom, living room, or office. Just make sure you invest in high-quality glazing to mitigate any greenhouse effect, whereby the space becomes too hot in summer and too cold in winter.

Conservatory extensions

Conservatory extensions are an excellent way to create a little extra space. They are typically glass built and were originally designed to encourage the growth of indoor plants.

They can be constructed to blend with the brickwork and structure of your home, are available in all shapes and sizes, and can be built to match your specific taste or idea. They’re also very versatile and can be used as the perfect space for entertaining guests.

While conservatories can be very cost-effective, due to their uPVC frames and the fact they can be constructed mainly off-site, you should be aware that poor quality conservatories can actually harm the value of your home. To avoid this, you might want to consider investing in high quality materials, such as timber or aluminium frames.

Garden room extensions

Garden room extensions are garden buildings detached from your home. They are often semi-glazed buildings with tiled roofing, as opposed to glass. They are a unique way to utilise extra space at home and can be suited for multiple functions such as a music room, dance studio or even an office.

While garden rooms can be erected under your permitted development rights, you should bear in mind that usage will change the planning and building rules your space will be subjected to. If you plan on using your garden room as a bedroom, you’ll face much tougher scrutiny and will likely need a full planning application.

Porch extensions

If you need a simple yet stylish way to transform the front of your property, then you should consider getting porch extensions.

Porch extensions are an incredible way to redesign a plain frontage, improve your security, and add extra family space.

Most porches are fully glazed or designed with glass roofs to improve the amount of natural light coming into your home. Constructing a front porch usually takes an average of 4 weeks.

Most common roof extension types

Roof extensions are typically classified into pitched roofs and flat roofs. While pitched roofs are more durable, flat roofs are more cost-effective and generally seen as more modern.

Pitched roof

Pitched roofs are traditionally designed and so blend better with traditional houses. They give you more height, offer more features such as beams and a sloping ceiling, and are well known for their longevity and durability.

Due to their design, they are easy to maintain and are more reliable when it comes to drainage. However, they are more expensive than flat roofs and take longer to install.

Flat roofs offer a more contemporary and modern spin to extension roof designs. As a result, they fit in perfectly with more recent designs.

They’re perfect for installing roof lights and, with proper planning permissions, can be turned into a verandah or roof garden.

One major concern with flat roofs is their durability and tendency to collect water. Still, these can be corrected by adding a slight pitch to the roof and using quality materials for the construction.

Still, flat roofs are cheaper and easier to construct than their counterparts.

If you’ve decided on the extension you’d like but aren’t sure how to go about it, you should get in touch with us.

At Resi, we offer homeowners looking to extend their homes an all-in-one solution. We can help you actualise your dream extension, from the design stage to planning permissions and financing solutions; our team of experts are here to make the entire process easier.

For more information on our financing option, please go here.

You can also use our calculator to find out how much your project will cost.

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Case study: CLT House by Unknown Works

21 March 2023

Bold yellow additions mark out the front and rear extensions to a semi-detached, brick house in east London. Photography by Unknown Works

Unknown Works has extended a semi-detached, brick infill terrace house with striking yellow additions to the front and rear and refreshed the existing ground floor layout.

Balancing a tight budget and brief, clients Annabel Bligh and Luke Leighfield tasked Unknown Works with adding space for their young family’s musical and creative pursuits, ensuring the layout could be adapted for hosting festive parties and intimate family gatherings. The cramped and dark ground floor required reconnection to the rest of the house, as did the large, leafy rear garden.

Unknown Works chose to use cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a flexible, cost-effective, sustainable building technology. The studio designed a kit of prefabricated structural panels in spruce CLT, which were assembled on site in just four days. Jono Howard, architect, Unknown Works

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Project data

Start on site September 2021 Completion June 2022 Gross internal floor area Ground floor: 75m², total house: 325m² Construction cost £210,000 Construction cost per m 2 £2,800 Architect Unknown Works Client Annabel Bligh and Luke Leighfield Structural engineer Martin Redston Associates Principal designer Unknown Works Approved building inspector Assent Building Control Main contractor TBS Tutka CLT contractor Construkt CLT Furniture Twentytwentyone Joinery Puck London CAD software used Revit, Rhino Annual CO2 emissions 27.8 kgCO 2 /m 2 Predicted design life 60 years Embodied/whole life carbon 305.07 kgCO 2 e/m 2   (refurbishment), 540.21 kgCO 2 e/m 2 (extension and porch)

Architect’s choices

The CLT panels were insulated, coated in textural render, and painted a bold banana yellow to form a stepped rear extension and cubic front porch. The yellow additions are tempered by gently rounded edges to bring a softness to their overall form. Stainless steel rain chains – a traditional Japanese drainage option – dispense with visual clutter caused by downpipes. The internal polished concrete was chosen with a light, warm tone to complement the CLT and yellow exterior.

The construction and exterior finishing exemplify Unknown Works’ creative exploration of materials and how stretching conventional uses can add life and dynamism to even a pedestrian setting. Jono Howard, architect, Unknown Works

Specification

The use of CLT was integral to the design as the UK looks towards becoming net zero by 2050. The architects worked hard to ensure that the timber was sustainably sourced. CLT has a lower embodied carbon footprint with respect to other building materials.

The CLT was designed and built to very high tolerances, due to the small size of project, the exposed structure and the CLT being pre-cut prior to starting work on site. By using one core material and stretching its

applications, Unknown Works designed specialist furniture, hand-crafted CLT dimmer switches and a CLT pivot entrance door from CLT offcuts. Further bespoke elements include the stainless steel drainage hoppers and rain chains, the kitchen and custom aluminium uplights. Jono Howard, architect, Unknown Works

Selected products

Cross-laminated timber Construkt CLT 80mm spruce CLT, sanded, finished, 12% white pigmented spread of flame fire retardant Extension construktclt.com

Cross-laminated timber furniture Construkt CLT/Puck London 80mm spruce CLT, sanded, finished with white Osmo Wax Extension www.construktclt.com

Polished concrete floor Lazenby Polished concrete, Oyster White, matt Extension lazenby.co.uk

Cladding Creagh Acid-etched precast concrete External envelope – plinth creaghconcrete.co.uk

Kitchen Plykea Plywood kitchen fronts, Fenix finish, matt black Extension plykea.com

Render Atlas Render ‘Traffic Yellow’ coarse finish Extension externally atlas.com.pl

Stainless steel rain chains TBS Tutka Brushed stainless steel 316 DP1 Extension externally tbslimited.com

Tiles Mandarin Stone Paintbox Yellow Canary gloss tile WC mandarinstone.com

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House Extensions and Loft Conversions Case Study Presentation

Provide your mail to download this House Extensions and Loft Conversions case study

1. Who is this House Extensions and Loft Conversions case study presentation for? 2. Hard Truths About House Extensions 3. Competitors and ADL Position Within The Market 4. The ADL Architectural & Consulting House Extension Service Explained 5. Stage 1 – Architectural Design, Planning Permissions 6. Stage 2 – Building Control Technical Drawings 7. Stage 3 – Build Consultancy and Site Visits 8. Results, Planning Approvals, Client Reviews 9. Why Working With “Architectural Developments Ltd”? 10. Our Core Values 11. Next Step: Book a meeting or call to have a preliminary conversation about the project

“Architectural Developments Ltd” Statement

1. Who is this House Extensions and Loft Conversions Case Study Presentation For?

• Homeowners who wish to create more space in their house. Knock walls internally, propose a new ground/first floor extension or loft conversion to maximise the space available and gain more usable area,
• Purchaser looking to buy a new house and exploring the feasibility for extensions and refurbishment,
• Property investor owning a rental property and looking to add space to it and increase its value.

2. Hard Truths About House Extensions

• Choosing the right people to work with will make the process easier. Choosing the wrong ones can cause stress, delays and projects well over budget.
• Fail to plan, plan to fail. The first step is the most important this journey. Working with the wrong architectural consultants may result in continuous planning refusals, wrong planning routes/strategies or a design you may not be looking forward to.
• Saving a few hundred £ at the design stage may cost thousands down the line. Investing in working with experienced & skilled professionals, instead, may result in relevant savings.
• Companies might take advantage of homeowners who are inexperienced in the industry and undertake a project of this scale for the first time. Hence why the building industry has a renowned bad reputation. It is important to have consultants on your side to help and support.
• Cutting corners and rushing the process may backfire years later. There are instances where the council may notice builds completed without planning or non-compliant with the permissions and enforced demolition, resulting in relevant losses to the client.
• Budgeting must be realistic from the start. There are a number of companies involved, materials etc. For a project to take off and reach completion, careful consideration towards budgeting must be considered.
• Do not work with companies who are trying for the first time. Make background checks on their capability to deliver the service and check if they have precedents. ADL can help in the vetting process.
• Working with designers that offer only planning is a sign of an entity that does not have the vision to see through the project until completion. This often ends in architectural decisions for the short term, with technical details not coming together in the construction phase.

3. Competitors and ADL Position Within The Market

It is normal in our industry to be compared against other companies and we are well aware there are a number of entities providing similar services.

We have respect for other firms in the market, and the objective of this section of the House Extensions and Loft Conversions case study is to increase awareness and have more accurate expectations.

• “Online” or “Remote” design firms. They are normally cheaper and often outsource the drawings and drafters. Although this could be a cheaper option, the level of communication and flexibility may not be the best. By not providing physical site visits and often asking homeowners to supply with “Key” dimensions, the accuracy of the drawings may not be to standards for construction. In fact, many of these firms mainly focus on stage 1 “planning” and leave the project halfway.
• “Fancy” High-End Architects. They often have no interest in house extensions and when enquired offer 5 figures above quotations & take the project on, only if worthwhile.
• A quality design is always beneficial, however, we have witnessed projects that could’ve been simplified and ended 6 figures over budget. In our opinion, 80-90% of the market looking for a house extension want a quality build, however, without exceeding the sensibility of the budget as the value increase of the property needs to justify the expense.
• Design and build firms, offering turnkey solutions. This is a good alternative for completely hands-off clients who in some instances live abroad or own multiple properties. The downside is early commitment and marriage to a company, whereby, the client may not be able to really compare fees and do not have leverage in the contract negotiation.
• The ADL Architectural & Consulting house extension service is covered in the next section of the case study presentation.

4. The ADL Architectural & Consulting House Extension Service Explained

“Architectural Developments Ltd” is a local architectural and consulting firm based in South London. We cover areas within a 10 miles radius and offer a physical/hybrid approach, combining site visits with zoom meetings and calls.

We help our clients from the early concept stage to council permission applications, to construction preparation and offer ongoing support during the build.

Being a local business allows us to be physically involved in the project and provide a tailored approach, empowering the homeowner and creating clear drawings that will allow builders to provide accurate and fair quotations.

By being involved in the project throughout, we will be able to provide advice with a long term vision, considering implications and pre-solving possible issues on site before even happening. We cooperate with very skilled engineers and consultants, to make sure key decisions are taken to help clients achieve their desired product at a reasonable cost.

We normally work on 3 different stages:

• Stage 1: Architectural design, planning permissions
• Stage 2: Building Control Technical Drawings
• Stage 3: Build Consultancy and Site Visits

Intermediate steps explained in the next pages.

5. Stage 1 - Site Survey & On Site Briefing

Step A) Site Survey & On-Site Briefing

The first step to any project is the site survey and on-site briefing. A Lead Designer will conduct the meeting and have all the tools to measure accurately the property, including laser, tripod, IPAD pro.

Further to the property survey and measured plans, the lead designer will begin sharing some preliminary architectural inputs on the project and options available, to be then refined at the following stages of the process.

5. Stage 1 - Existing Drawings Set

Step B) Existing Drawings Set

Following the site survey, our team will begin the drafting process and drawings preparation. With accurate dimensions of the existing property, we will create respective plans, sections and elevations to satisfy the council requirements and create full drawings.

5. Stage 1 - Preliminary Proposals

Step C) Preliminary Proposals

Step C is the preparation of the Preliminary proposals and options for the design. At this step, the lead designer would have a clear understanding of the site and the objectives of the client. Every project is unique and we normally prepare a few preliminary options to discuss and then further refine the favourite.

5. Stage 1 - Preliminary Proposals (Options)

During the Preliminary Proposals Stage, we tedn to forward different options, to have a more in-depth conversation on the design & possibilities.

5. Stage 1 - Finalisation of Proposal & Submission

Step D) Finalisation of Proposal & Submission

The final step is the refinement of the proposal and preparation for council submission. After conversations and emails and when the client is happy with the scheme, the ADL Team will prepare all the necessary documentation for the council application on the planning portal.

This will include:

• OS Extract Map,
• Existing Plans, Sections and Elevations
• Proposed Plans, Sections and Elevations
• Design and Access Statement
• Organisation for additional documentation (should it be required)

6. Stage 2 - Building Control Technical Drawings

Stage 2 normally begins after the response from the council and approval. In some instances, where the proposal may be permitted development or there might be urgency to start construction on site, Stage 2 could begin right after the submission and completion of stage 1.

This phase involves the technical drawings required for construction and by the building control entity. It has a further level of detail compared to the planning stage and this is when the structural engineers become, CCTV Drainage Surveyors and potentially party wall surveyors become part of the project.

Steps Breakdown:

• ADL and Client meeting/zoom call to refine the final internal layout and full scheme,
• ADL To organise CCTV Drainage survey with a specialist company and set-up email introduction (Normally around £245)
• ADL to prepare the first draft of technical drawings,
• ADL to export the drawings to the client for confirmation,
• ADL to Introduce the structural engineers we normally work with (separate company, fees depending on complexity of the project)
• Engineers to complete their steel design / loadbearing calculations and supply data back
• ADL & engineers to finalise the building control technical drawings
• ADL to support on the party wall process. In many instances, neighbours are understanding and consent to works directly. In other cases, they may be complicated. It is important to know that neighbours cannot stop work approved by the council, however, they could slow the starting date. We normally recommend a local reliable and affordable party wall surveyor to assist in case the situation becomes more complex and requires schedule of conditions or a party wall award.

6. Stage 2 - Building Control Ground Floor Plan Example

6. Stage 2 - Building Control First Floor Plan Example

6. Stage 2 - Building Control Section Cut Example

7. Stage 3 - Construction Consultancy and Site Visits

Stage 3 normally begins when the main contractor has been chosen and a target start date is set. The lead designer from the ADL team will follow up with the builder and organise for a site visit prior works starting, to handover all the technical drawings and contact details of the structural engineer.

After having gone through the drawings, clarified any questions the builder might have and left physical copies on site of the technical drawings – the ADL team will keep close contact during the build with the main contractor via whatsapp and be ready to clarify and rectify any issues which may arise.

During stage 3 we normally include for a total of 3 site visits.

• 1 Prior works starting
• 2 at key milestones of the project

Additional site visits may be requested by the client if needed, however, 3 is a balanced number assuming the main contractor is experienced and well structured to deliver the service.

8. Results, Planning Approvals, Client Reviews

Delivering Results and having a 100% client satisfaction rate is a core priority of our organisation. We make sure that everything within our control is considered with the utmost care and dedication.

Few Council Approvals and 5 Star Google reviews are in the section below.

Lois Andrew

Working with Emilio and ADL team has been a pleasure from the start. They have provided valuable advice and helped us prepare for construction, from very thorough technical drawings, to structural engineering and liaison with party-wall. The builders were impressed with the details and allowed them to provide accurate quotations. We would recommend the ADL team to anyone looking to undertake a project. Great level of communication, dedication and knowledge.

Highly recommend ADL. The designs for our rear extension were fantastic and we got planning approval at the first go. Emilio and the team were very helpful and responsive throughout.

came across ADL through a referral and from the early start, the level of communication was great. Emilio and his team have gone above and beyond, delivering a great result and planning approval both for the loft conversion and for the ground floor alterations + front large porch. They also helped in preparing all the technical drawings for building control, tendering and construction, allowing the project to begin with drawings at very high standards and levels of detail. On top of it, they have been really responsive during the build maintaining close contact with the contractors for any questions and clarifications. Well deserved 5 stars.

Emilio and his team at ADL have done a great job for us at 3 Roydon Cl. They have sorted all the permissions and prepared us for construction. I would highly recommend the ADL team to anyone looking to undertake a property development project

9. Why Working With “Architectural Developments Ltd”?

ADL House Extensions Statement

“Our mission is to make the house extension process as straightforward and enjoyable as possible. We help homeowners/developers visualise the project through a clear design process and gain the relevant permissions. ADL is a one-stop consulting firm architecture led that can assist from concept to completion, navigating through the required steps in the right direction without cutting corners and providing support to external companies involved along the way.”

We know that investing in a house extension project is exciting and the desire for more area can change the way you experience a property and positively impact the way our clients live in the new spaces.

It is a journey that does take time and requires trust in the people you choose to be part of the team involved in the delivery.

After having been involved in over 75 house extensions, we believe that the correct advice at an early stage can make the project unfold the right way and set the tone for a successful development.

We are looking to impact more and more people’s lives with genuine advice and make their dream home become a reality.

10. Our Core Values

• Interests aligned with the client

We would never provide advice to make our life easier. Often there are different options in planning strategy and some may be more complex than others. We will always openly discuss pro’s and con’s of each key decision through the project overall.

• In-House growing architectural and planning team

We do not subcontract or dilute the quality of architecture and design. We understand the councils are becoming more and more design-oriented, therefore, we focus on training our team and forwarding sensible proposals to maximise the value of the property

• Long term commitment

Projects of this nature may last months from the very earliest stage to completion. We are aware there are elements in timing outside our control, however, we look forward to be patient and work through each step of the way

• Clear Communication Throughout

We maintain close contact and are easily reachable during the process. We tend to respond to emails and calls at the soonest moment practicably possible and are always open to changes and alterations in plans.

• Development Knowledge and Value Gain Exchange

Advice on realistic balance between investment towards the project and value gain to the end product.

11. Next Step: Book a meeting or call to have a preliminary conversation about the project

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House Extension

Pride Rd Architects can help you explore and develop ideas that you have in extending your house. If you feel you need an additional room, or want to extend out into the garden, we can help. Take a look at these case studies and feel free to get in touch for a no obligation Initial Consultation.

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Case Study: Transforming a London Home with a Stunning House Extension

This case study explores how one London family worked with an architect to design their dream home extension. We'll look at the project goals, design process, and final results that added both square footage and style to their property.

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Garden rooms – design ideas and expert advice

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What to do if your builder goes bust

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Every home should have one – a cosy corner to curl up with a good book, watch a favourite film or just chill

Designing a forever home

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Pocket Doors – a good idea?

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Adding wow factor to your home extension

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Recipe for a perfect kitchen

Design tips to help you create your dream kitchen

How to create a bathroom that’s both functional and fabulous

Be inspired to design the bathroom of your dreams.

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Extending & renovating a listed building

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Fencing and gates: ideas and inspiration

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Open plan vs broken plan

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How to renovate and expand your Victorian house

Design ideas to transform a Victorian property

Just another brick in the wall?

Building with bricks – handmade or machine-made?

Renovating your basement: what you need to know

Carve out extra living space by digging deep into your basement

Stair makeovers: updating your staircase

The staircase is the hardworking backbone of a home, linking floors. So, why not turn it into an eye-catching feature too?

Converting a garage into living space

Garages often turns into junk rooms – too full of clutter to park a car, so here’s advice for aspiring home improvers.

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Creating an outdoor kitchen

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Create the perfect garden office

If you don’t have a spare room to convert into a home office, then why not create one outside?

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Loft conversion: a beginner’s guide

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What should I do if my builder goes AWOL?

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Should my builder take his tools with him when he finishes for the day?

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Side return extensions - a beginners guide!

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I want to modify an existing extension - do I still need planning permission?

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Top tips for home extensions

Extending a kitchen-diner or converting the loft is a great way to create more space and value without the hassle of moving. But before you jump in and start knocking down walls, there is some important and even boring stuff you need to consider.

Case Study - What can you do with a loft full of truss rafters? Loft Conversion Project!

A case study on how one home owner converted his loft - even though it was full of truss rafters

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A case study showing how one homeowner complied with building regulations when building a large extension

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Case Study - Foundations for an Extension

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Case Study - A side return kitchen extension

When Antonia and her family moved into their Edwardian semi-detached home in Winchester the kitchen was dark and dated but they saw it had potential.

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1930s Semi-detached London house extension and loft conversion case study

by Taylan Tahir | Extensions | 0 comments

Written by Taylan Tahir

We were commissioned by our clients, a husband and wife with two young children, to design a loft conversion extension for their home in Cricklewood, London, NW2.

The property is a circa 1930s Victorian 3 bedroom semi-detached house with detached garage. The existing house had already been extended at ground floor but the layout of the kitchen was such that it was disconnected with the rest of the ground floor living spaces. The growing family needed additional living space as well as another bedroom.

Under Permitted Development we would have been able to extend to the side (half the width of the existing house) and extend to the rear an additional 1m (3m from the original house).

Note: In 2019 the 3m limit was subsequently changed to 6m from the original house. The new space created under PD would have been limited – the side return extension would have created narrow rooms, separated from the main living areas by the stair and entrance. The rear extension would have made a minor improvement to the existing usable space in the kitchen/dining room

Click image to enlarge

We initially developed two design options for a wrap around single storey extension: a) Utilise the full width of the site to maximise the new width of the house and create an additional second living room. b) Retain side access to the garden and a create narrower extension. Additionally, we proposed to convert the existing loft and add a full with rear dormer extension to maximise additional floor area created at 2nd floor.

A wrap around style extension allows some radical improvements to the existing layout: • The full width of the house is can be utilised as kitchen/living space at the rear and can be opened up to the garden. • A free-flowing plan with interconnected rooms lets people to circulate easily and allows flexibility in the use of different spaces.

Proposed Ground Floor

Proposed First Floor

Proposed Second Floor

The design was adapted further following client feedback to create an L-Shaped extension. We extended an additional 3m on one side to capitalise on the southerly aspect and create a protected courtyard. (The house is north east facing).

The approved scheme provided an additional study, utility and an enlarged kitchen/dining/living (plus additional master bedroom and ensuite at 2nd floor).

Not only was this an improvement on the gain in floor area from a PD single storey extension (highlighted in green) but we were able to create a much better internal arrangement.

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Prenton House Extension – Case Study

• January 30, 2023
• No Comments

One of the best ways to gain additional space and raise the value of the property is through the construction of a loft conversion. I recently worked with a client on a stunning extension that started with a partial loft conversion where they wanted to create a master suite from a small skylight extension that they already had in place. The overall value of the project was in the region of £100,000.

I designed a Dormer extension to the rear which included a beautiful balcony. A space was created for an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe.

On the ground floor the client originally had a kitchen dining area with a separate playroom. Open plan living is becoming increasingly popular as it provides a versatile, light, airy and sociable space. By removing walls and doors that separate rooms, open plan kitchen, living and dining areas provide a multi-functional space where all family members can relax and enjoy themselves with the added benefit of being able to oversee your young family.

The family wanted to create a large open-plan space that was family friendly for their two young children, allowing for them to work in the kitchen whilst keeping an eye on the children whilst they played.

The family wanted functional built-in storage areas which I incorporated into some boxed-in bench seating that would provide a multi-functional space for the play area, and general seating for socialising.

The space created allowed for lots of room for living and dining. I included bi-folding doors to open the back of the house to allow for natural light and views into the garden. The bi-fold doors opened on to a large, decked area with steps down to the grassed area.

For house extensions to make economic sense, you need to make sure the value added is greater than the cost of the project. When it comes to the design of your extension, we can discuss initial ideas, I can explain the statutory processes, give you information on fees and you take the next steps.

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A two storey oak frame home extension nestled in a Cotswold village

Having fallen in love with oak during the renovation of their Cotswold home, Claire and Phil thought a two-storey oak frame extension would perfectly suit their requirement to add a little extra space.

Project Details

• 56.8m² + 36.8m²

In 2010, Phil and Claire Baker fell in love with a plot which they later purchased in Gloucestershire, where they had visions of building their dream family home. They began their journey by renovating the 1970s bungalow residing there, having received planning approval to replace it with a bespoke three-bedroom home design that met their family’s needs and harnessed the surrounding views of the Cotswolds.

Choosing to build with oak

beams and a sunroom into their interior design.

“Oak is such a wonderful, warm material and gives texture to a home,” says Claire. “Once we’d completed our build, we always knew there was even more potential to extend.”

The Bakers’ were determined to make the very most of their surroundings while creating additional living space for their family to enjoy. So, they began considering an extension design that would complement their new home.

“We were certain we wanted our extension to be built using oak,” says Claire. “So, we began visiting oak frame companies. There was no competition in the smooth finish to the oak that Oakwrights would provide us with.”

Working with Oakwrights

Phil and Claire had a two storey extension design in mind and in 2017, they began discussing their ideas with Julian Pilkington, a Senior Frame Designer here at Oakwrights.

“Downstairs, we worked together to create a spacious, open-plan living area that had large opening double doors to link Phil and Claire’s home with their garden,” says Julian. “Moving upstairs, we designed an en-suite bedroom which is uncluttered and simple, to allow their views to be the only distraction. The loft-style mezzanine floor that separates the upstairs and down provides a connection to the rest of the house, and the Juliet balcony in the additional bedroom welcomes a warm breeze on a balmy summer night to circulate in from the garden to the side.”

To support Phil and Claire’s home extension journey, they visited our oak frame Herefordshire show home, The Woodhouse, and came to our workshops to see how their bespoke extension design would be crafted.

“Julian and the team looked at every detail for us ensuring our requirements on a visual aspect was achieved,” says Claire.

Key design features

“Living in a Cotswold village, we are lucky enough to have stunning views across the valley,” explains Claire. “In order to take advantage of these and the sight of the changing weather throughout the year, our main priority was the addition of a double-height glazed front to ensure we capture these from both upper and lower levels.”

The face glazed gable allows a true representation of the structural frame inside to be shown from the exterior. Alongside their striking gable, the Bakers’ two storey vaulted mezzanine feature of this oak frame extension and large opening doors help to blend their garden and views over the rolling vista of Stroud with both the downstairs living and the additional upstairs bedroom.

“The opening for the main door to the garden is a feature that required us to work closely with our structural engineer to arrive at a solution to ensure such a span is possible in oak,” explains Julian. “The result was worth the head scratching and ensures a seamless connection from the well-maintained family garden into Phil and Claire’s new living space and beyond.”

The finer details

Their additional open-plan living area pictured below, which flows on from their kitchen, was built around the existing chimney of the original bungalow to allow the stonework to become a contrasting texture to the oak frame and glazed opening. Stepping onto the first-floor, Phil and Claire wanted to create another bedroom which would benefit from its own en-suite.

“The oak structure was set out to ensure any partition walls that we built would fall onto large beams, meaning Julian and the team designed out any awkward finishing details,” says Claire.

Looking up and across into Phil and Claire’s roof from this room, paired wind braces and oak common rafters provide the structure yet look beautiful as a feature in the double-height void areas.

A family home for the future

For Phil and Claire, their extension has given back to their family more than they could have imagined already.

“We love every part of our home extension; the link from the existing part of the house into the new has given us a light and airy space that we didn’t know we needed,” explains Claire. “We spend every part of the day and night in this new area, linking the kitchen to our new family room. On a sunny day, all the doors are pulled back and the feeling is amazing. Visitors are taken aback by what the extension has created and we are always excited to hear the lovely comments made by passers-by, saying what a wonderful home we have, what a fantastic job has been done and how lucky we are; which we are well aware of and appreciate every single day,” concludes Claire.

We were certain we wanted our extension to be built using oak. So, we began visiting oak frame companies. There was no competition in the smooth finish to the oak that Oakwrights would provide us with.

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A contemporary oak frame home in Somerset

Snuggled within a hidden Somerset valley, stands Hart Brook House in all its glory.

This is just a snapshot of homeowners Keith and Jane’s special self-build story – a testament to how timing is everything, and the beauty that can be born from a vision…

A contemporary Scandi-style oak frame family home in Suffolk

Mr and Mrs L envisioned building a contemporary Scandinavian-style home. However, the question was: could they achieve their dream of incorporating a traditional green oak frame into its architectural design?

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Case Studies

Single Storey Rear Extension & Full House Reconfiguration In Woking

Richmond – Loft Conversion, Front & Rear Extension With A Full House Refurbishment

Watford – Double Storey Side Extension, Rear Extension, Loft Conversion & Full House Refurbishment

Pinner – loft conversion, rear extension & full house refurbishment

New Build Queens Road, Windsor

Epsom Loft Conversion

Ealing Rear Extension

Ickenham Extension And Refurbishment

Slough Extension And Home Refurbishment

Twickham Extension And Home Refurbishment

Staines Extension And Home Refurbishment

West London Extension, Loft Conversion And Full Home Refurbishment

Pinner Extension And Home Refurbishment

Kingston Extension And Home Refurbishment

New Malden New Build

Pinner House Extension

Epsom House Extension and Refurbishment

Twickenham Double Storey Rear Extension

Richmond Loft Conversion

Richmond Loft Conversion, Double Storey Side and Rear House Extension

Ickenham Rear House Extension

Harrow Rear House Extension

Langley Rear House Extension , Loft Conversion with Full House Refurb

Chiswick Rear House Extension

House Extension and Loft conversion in Kew

House Extension In Ealing

Loft Extension In Harrow

House Extension and Loft Conversion with Full House Refurb In Kew

Shepherd’s Bush Rear Double Storey Extension, Loft Conversion with Full House Refurb

Ealing Loft Conversion

• Architectural Spatial Design
• Architectural Technical Design
• Structural Design
• Site Supervision
• Case Study 1 – House Extension & Structural Alteration
• Case Study 2 – Structural Alterations & Extension
• Case Study 3 – Single Storey Rear Extension
• Case Study 4 – Single Storey Ground Floor Extension
• Case Study 5 – Rear & Side Extension Project
• Duty Holders

Single Storey Rear Extension Project

Problem statement:

This end of terrace house had a small sitting room at the front and a small bathroom and a kitchen at the rear of the house. There was no dining room or space for even a small table, making dining awkward.

The boundary between the Client’s house and the middle house in the terrace cuts across the Client’s plot, making it difficult to design a regular shaped and aesthetically pleasing extension at the rear of the house that would accommodate all Client’s requirements for space and light. A compromise was reached by designing a single storey extension on the boundary that has a trapezoidal shape rather than a standard rectangular shape.

Client’s requirements:

• to design a single storey extension within the constraints of the irregular boundaries of the plot. The proposed extension is to provide an open space for integrated kitchen/dining/sitting area overlooking the garden
• to redesign bathroom layout

Key considerations:

In order to obtain approve for the works two issues needed to be addressed

• We had to resolve Party Wall issues with the neighbour
• Since part of the extension was to be built over a public sewer, we had to design foundations that avoided potentially damaging the sewer and obtaining permission from Southern Water to proceed with the works

A spacious and light extension has been created on a difficult plot adding considerable improved amenity to the home-owners.

The rear extension provides much needed space for a dining area and an informal sitting area overlooking the garden. The rooflights and the bi-fold doors let in the light, not only to the extended area of the house, but also to the kitchen, that is now located at the background of this newly created space.

The bathroom has been redesigned and re-fitted. The old bath has been replaced by a spacious wet-room, The WC has been moved to the middle of the bathroom so that it is not visible from the kitchen when the door is open.

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Structural alterations & extension project, rear & side extension project, house extension & structural alteration project, single storey ground floor extension, our latest projects, structural alterations & extension project, rear & side extension project, house extension & structural alteration project.

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Pod extension.

As well as standalone structures, The Pod Factory also fit pods as extensions to existing houses.

Kasia got in touch with us regarding an extension.  We were happy to work alongside Kasia in designing her dream extension and saving her the hassle involve in a conventional block build extension.

Testimonial

“We absolutely love our pod, it is top quality and no hidden costs or extras. It was all done so quick in the end, a ready made extension to our house without any of the building work done on site which was exactly what We wanted. Highly recommended.”

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Welcome to Heritage Garden Studios

Yorkshire's most trusted garden room provider.

Family Owned Business

A family-owned business, Heritage Garden Studios are expert at designing, manufacturing, and installing SIPS garden rooms, annexes, single-storey SIPS extensions and lodges. Based in Doncaster, we specialise in planning, building, and installing beautiful contemporary garden buildings. Our buildings are fully insulated to the standard of a modern home. They are built to last and comply with British building regulations.

Heritage Garden Studios supplies the best quality product on the market at the most cost-effective price. Thanks to our low overheads and commitment to affordability, we can offer prices that are 30% cheaper than the UK’s leading Garden Room Supplier.

As a small family business, we take pride in our passion, dedication, and expertise, evident in every project we undertake. Our customers agree, with 5-star reviews across the board.

Heritage Garden Studios uses only the best materials and has a team of skilled craftsmen with over 25 years of joinery and construction experience. Our standard is excellence, and we pay attention to even the smallest details to ensure that our customers receive the highest quality garden room possible.

Check out some of our Projects

Case Study-Doncaster

Case Study-Oldham Roberts Garden Room

SIPS House Extension

A Garden Room Case Study in Barnsley

Case Study Upper Haugh

Case Study: Luxury Garden Room

Case Study-Heritage Show Site

Case Study – Garden Office Doncaster

Case Study-Ormskirk

High thermal & noise insulation.

Our garden rooms are made from Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), one of the best insulation options because they are strong, energy-efficient, and provide excellent thermal and noise insulation. They keep your garden room warm winter and cool in summer, making it suitable for all-year-round use

Professional Service

Heritage Garden Studios provides a reliable and professional service that includes delivery, installation, warranty, and aftercare. See for yourself and check out our five star reviews on Trustpilot, Google and Facebook

Quality Options

We can customise your garden room with your choice of size, shape, design, layout, windows, doors, flooring, lighting, heating, and more. We specaiise in cladding options and are able to offer the very latest in non maintenance finishes.

Price Promise

At Heritage Garden Studios, we deliver top-notch quality products at unbeatable prices. We keep our costs low and our value high, so you can save 30% compared to the UK’s leading Garden Room Supplier.

what our customers say

Why Choose Us?

At Heritage Garden Studios we pride ourselves on the quality of both the products we supply and the service we offer our customers.

With the growing demand for extra space at home and working from home, we decided to use our construction expertise to focus specifically on creating high-quality garden offices and outdoor rooms, a way to help our customers add space and flexibility to an existing home.

Extensive research and development have meant that we have perfected the design and manufacturing of purpose-built and fully insulated Garden Room buildings for work and leisure

Care, Commitment and Experience

The Heritage Garden Studios team are extremely passionate about our range of products. Excellence as Standard is our philosophy, and we have a fantastic, highly-regarded reputation for customer care and service. We are constantly pushing the boundaries in development and quality backed by over 25 years of manufacturing in Yorkshire, giving total confidence, satisfaction, and peace of mind.

We offer outstanding customer service and can assist with any garden room needs: from advice on permitted development to custom-made designs. Our team will help you create the perfect Garden Building.

Imagine Using Your Garden Room All Year

Our garden buildings are designed to be used in all seasons. Our Garden Rooms are constructed to insulation grade three, capable of maintaining a comfortable interior temperature of +20 degrees Celsius, even when the outside temperature drops to -15 degrees Celsius, with the heating system in operation.

All of the windows and doors are double glazed and fitted with Pilkington K™ glazing, the same standard as new build houses.

 The EPDM roof ensures that the garden studio interior is water tight and a sloped roof ensures that water drains to the guttering system along the back facia

We offer a huge range of options to customise your garden room.

Double Glazed Doors

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS)

EPDM Rubber Roof

Vermin Proof Floor

Huge Choice of Cladding

Double Glazed Windows

• Design Consultation
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Chose which type of design consultation you would prefer by checking the box below. We will then get in touch to arrange a date and time.

Fill out the form below and we'll get back to you

Your garden studios brochure from Heritage Garden Studios is a page by page guide to finding your perfect garden studio. You can browse our range of studios from the comfort of your home.

Plan your space, compare finishes and designs and get ideas and inspiration for your garden room project.

There’s even a handy planner in the back for you to sketch out your ideas.

Fill out the form below and we will email you a copy of our 2022 Brochure as a PDF to download .

Latest News

Celebrating Our Third Feature in the Garden Room Guide: The Garden Room Entertainment Hub

At Heritage Garden Studios, we are thrilled to announce that we have been featured in the Garden Room Guide for the third time! Whether you’re

The Rise of Composite Cladding in Garden Room Projects

Looking to create a stunning, long-lasting outdoor space? Look no further than composite cladding! This man-made material offers a wide range of benefits over natural wood, including superior durability, low maintenance, and consistent quality. Plus, with companies like Millboard leading the charge in innovative, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing design, the possibilities are endless. As the Managing Director of Heritage Garden Studios, I have seen firsthand how composite cladding is transforming garden room projects. Whether you’re building a garden office, gym, or simply a relaxing retreat, composite cladding is the perfect choice for a beautiful and enduring outdoor space.

Innovative SIPs House Extensions: Transforming UK Homes | Heritage Garden Studios

In this blog, we will explore the innovative approach of using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for house extensions, highlighting their benefits, efficiency, and sustainability. We’ll delve into a detailed case study provided by Heritage Garden Studios to demonstrate the practical application and advantages of SIPs in real-world settings. This discussion aims to inform and inspire homeowners in the UK considering an extension with this modern technique.

“After our first meeting with Jeff, we knew that we would have Apex build our extension. The process was so simple from the initial building plans right through to the final inspection. The communication was fantastic and nothing was ever a problem. The quality of he build and attention to detail could not be faulted. We got everything hat we’ve ever wanted and more! We love our house!”

Project details, suburb of the project, description of project.

Ground & First Floor Addition

Clients reasons/purpose for project

Additional Space

Project Area

Extra rooms / areas added, ground floor.

• Sitting area, Dining and Kitchen with provision for future deck by the owner

First Floor

• Bedroom 1: 4.8 x 3.7m with walk-in-robe 2.1×2.1m
• Bedroom 2: 3.9 x 3.6m with 3-door robe
• Bathroom: 2.8 x 2.7m with Bath, shower and vanity
• Toilet: 1.8x1m
• Family room: 4.5 x 4.3m

Renovations

• Remove the back-screen enclosure,
• Demolish rear wall of back left bedroom
• Build a new wall in back left bedroom to form a new laundry with new door
• Convert existing dining to linen
• Demolish part rear wall near dining for entrance into new addition
• Create new entries into the new pantry and fridge
• Build new walls in existing kitchen to form a new pantry and fridge area
• Demolish kitchen/lounge room wall

Finishes / Materials Used

• Roof  – Concrete Tiled roof
• Windows  – Aluminium Sliding windows
• Walls  – Vinyl cladded wall with 3-tier corbelling
• Flooring  – Pyneboard Flooring
• Walls/Ceiling  – 10mm Gyprock

Preliminaries

Council/Certifier approval, BASIX assessment & certificate, Sydney Water approvals, Engineering and Architectural Drawings.

• All bathroom fittings and fixtures
• Door handles/ passage sets
• Door architraves and skirting
• Floor coverings, window coverings, solar panels, making good affected flooring, air conditioning and internal painting.

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Find out the Cost of This Project

And get a quote for yours!

Find Out The Cost of This Projecti

Customer reviews.

We loved the way our vision was replicated!

“We absolutely loved the way our vision was replicated and presented for our growing family’s needs. Every step of the process was greatly supported & communicated. Wes was integral in ensuring the process was managed with as minimal disruption to us and professional. Thank you!”

We thank Apex for giving us the family home

"From starting the process with the sales team, to working throughout the build with the project manager & trades was an overall fantastic experience. Everything was well organised and managed. The trades and associate companies Apex work with were also fantastic. Wes went above and beyond to ensure we were satisfied with everything throughout the build. We thank Apex for giving us the family home we can grow into and enjoy for a lifetime."

Thanks Jeff, A truly seamless addition to our home

“Thanks Jeff, A truly seamless addition to our home. Whilst we are still renovating, it all looks messy still but once all complete it will be the best!”

Apex Alterations and Additions fully met our expectations their promise

“Apex Alterations and Additions fully met our expectations their promise by fully delivering the home extension as hassle free as the process can be. I was impressed that Apex were understanding when I held up part of the process due to my father’s illness.”

A great extension that was finished on time and within budget

“Jeff came up with a great design for our extension and was always happy to answer our many questions. All the tradesmen were very professional and sometimes worked long hours to finish on time (the carpenter especially was exceptional). Tom came almost every day to check on the progress and quality of the job. Result: a great extension that was finished on time and within budget. We will recommend Apex. Thank you to all for all your hard work.”

Our expectations were met and we couldn’t be happier

“Apex Alterations and Additions presented as a professional building company to build our dream home, we now have our dream home. Our expectations were met and we couldn’t be happier with the final result.”

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WHERE WE BUILD

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• Unit 17, 37-47 Borec Rd, Penrith NSW 2750
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• Ground Floor Extensions
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EXTENSION CASE STUDY

Specialist for Loft Conversions, Building Extensions and House Renovation

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Do restoration strategies in mangroves recover microbial diversity? A case study in the Yucatan peninsula

Affiliations.

• 1 Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México.
• 2 Instituto de Ecología, Laboratorio de Ecología Bacteriana, Unidad Mérida, Ucú, Yucatán, México.
• 3 Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ucú, Yucatán, México.
• 4 Facultad de Química, Unidad de Química Sisal, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sisal, Yucatán, México.
• 5 Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
• PMID: 39150908
• PMCID: PMC11329136
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307929

Mangrove forests are fundamental coastal ecosystems for the variety of services they provide, including green-house gas regulation, coastal protection and home to a great biodiversity. Mexico is the fourth country with the largest extension of mangroves of which 60% occurs in the Yucatan Peninsula. Understanding the microbial component of mangrove forests is necessary for their critical roles in biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem health, function and restoration initiatives. Here we study the relation between the microbial community from sediments and the restoration process of mangrove forests, comparing conserved, degraded and restored mangroves along the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Results showed that although each sampling site had a differentiated microbial composition, the taxa belonged predominantly to Proteobacteria (13.2-23.6%), Desulfobacterota (7.6-8.3%) and Chloroflexi (9-15.7%) phyla, and these were similar between rainy and dry seasons. Conserved mangroves showed significantly higher diversity than degraded ones, and restored mangroves recovered their microbial diversity from the degraded state (Dunn test p-value Benjamini-Hochberg adjusted = 0.0034 and 0.0071 respectively). The structure of sediment microbial β-diversity responded significantly to the mangrove conservation status and physicochemical parameters (organic carbon content, redox potential, and salinity). Taxa within Chloroflexota, Desulfobacterota and Thermoplasmatota showed significantly higher abundance in degraded mangrove samples compared to conserved ones. This study can help set a baseline that includes the microbial component in health assessment and restoration strategies of mangrove forests.

Copyright: © 2024 Esguerra-Rodríguez et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Fig 1. Study sites and the conservation…

Fig 1. Study sites and the conservation status of the sampled plots.

In each location…

Fig 2. Alpha diversity ( 1/D ).

Microbial genetic…

Microbial genetic diversity (inverted Simpson index) in sediments along the…

Fig 3. Relative microbial abundance.

The most abundant microbial orders found along the northern coast…

Fig 4. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA).

Dispersion…

Dispersion of sediment microbial composition along the northern Yucatan…

Fig 5. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA).

Ordination…

Ordination from weighted UniFrac distances. Conservation status: red circles…

Fig 6. ASVs (including all sites) that…

Fig 6. ASVs (including all sites) that show significant differences in their abundance (between degraded…

Fig 7. ASVs (including all sites) that…

Fig 7. ASVs (including all sites) that show significant differences in their abundance (between degraded…

Similar articles

• Sediment microbial community structure associated to different ecological types of mangroves in Celestún, a coastal lagoon in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Gómez-Acata ES, Teutli C, Falcón LI, García-Maldonado JQ, Prieto-Davó A, Yanez-Montalvo A, Cadena S, Chiappa-Carrara X, Herrera-Silveira JA. Gómez-Acata ES, et al. PeerJ. 2023 Feb 8;11:e14587. doi: 10.7717/peerj.14587. eCollection 2023. PeerJ. 2023. PMID: 36785710 Free PMC article.
• Untapped rich microbiota of mangroves of Pakistan: diversity and community compositions. Bushra R, Ahmed I, Li JL, Lian Z, Li S, Ali A, Uzair B, Amin A, Ehsan M, Liu YH, Li WJ. Bushra R, et al. Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2024 Jun;69(3):595-612. doi: 10.1007/s12223-023-01095-3. Epub 2023 Oct 16. Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2024. PMID: 37843797
• Metatranscriptomics analysis of mangroves habitats around Mauritius. Rampadarath S, Bandhoa K, Puchooa D, Jeewon R, Bal S. Rampadarath S, et al. World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2018 Apr 2;34(4):59. doi: 10.1007/s11274-018-2442-7. World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2018. PMID: 29611003
• The microbial landscape in bioturbated mangrove sediment: A resource for promoting nature-based solutions for mangroves. Booth JM, Fusi M, Marasco R, Daffonchio D. Booth JM, et al. Microb Biotechnol. 2023 Aug;16(8):1584-1602. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.14273. Epub 2023 May 20. Microb Biotechnol. 2023. PMID: 37209285 Free PMC article. Review.
• A review on microplastic pollution in the mangrove wetlands and microbial strategies for its remediation. Meera SP, Bhattacharyya M, Nizam A, Kumar A. Meera SP, et al. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Jan;29(4):4865-4879. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-17451-0. Epub 2021 Nov 18. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022. PMID: 34791631 Review.
• Robertson AI (Alistar I), Alongi DM (Daniel M). Tropical mangrove ecosystems. American Geophysical Union; 1992.
• Donato DC, Kauffman JB, Murdiyarso D, Kurnianto S, Stidham M, Kanninen M. Mangroves among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics. Nat Geosci. 2011;4: 293–297. doi: 10.1038/ngeo1123 - DOI
• McDonald KO, Webber DF, Webber MK. Mangrove forest structure under varying envrionmental conditions. Bull Mar Sci. 2003;73: 491–505.
• Dahdouh-Guebas F, Hugé J, Abuchahla GMO, Cannicci S, Jayatissa LP, Kairo JG, et al.. Reconciling nature, people and policy in the mangrove social-ecological system through the adaptive cycle heuristic. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci. 2021;248: 1–29. doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106942 - DOI
• Barbier EB, Hacker SD, Kennedy C, Koch EW, Stier AC, Silliman BR. The value of estuarine and coastal ecosystem services. Ecol Monogr. 2011;81(2): 169–193.
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At the Democratic Convention, a Historic Nomination

What story did the democrats tell about kamala harris and will it be enough to win.

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

[BACKGROUND CHATTER]

I’m standing in a sea of people coming out of this vast convention. And people are holding signs, smiling. There’s confetti everywhere. There are balloons, white, red, and blue. And there’s a lot of excitement.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily” from inside the Democratic National Convention Hall, where Kamala Harris has just accepted her party’s nomination, becoming the first woman of color in US history to do so.

Today, the story this convention told about Harris and whether that story could be enough to win.

It’s Friday, August 23.

[SERENE MUSIC]

The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. What shall our our legacy be? What will our children say? Let me in my heart, when my days are through, America, America, I gave my best to you.

On night one of the Democratic National Convention, the evening was really defined by this very emotional, quite bittersweet goodbye from President Biden.

And there’s nothing we cannot do when we do it together.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.

It was the closing of one chapter so that another could begin. It was Kamala Harris’s moment.

[UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC]

So right now, it’s 7:40. We are on the floor at the Democratic National Convention. It is a crazy party atmosphere, which is like a massive understatement.

Day two kicked off with delegates gathering on the convention floor, casting their votes in a kind of symbolic way to make Harris the party’s nominee.

This giant festival of lights, people in cowboy hats, people with blinking bracelets, people with Christmas lights wrapped around their hats, heads, shoulders, people wearing donkey hats. I mean, it’s very, very, very celebratory in here.

We need to see that we’re moving on. We are turning a chapter in America.

How do you feel right now?

Awesome, excitement, energized. Ready to win this election.

I love it. I love it. People are just excited, electrified, and they’re just loving it, and they’re happy.

This has been the most electrifying event I’ve ever attended in my life. It’s my first convention. But what a convention to come for, right? To make history right now, as we charge forward to November 5, to elect the first female Black president. I’m excited.

So with Harris now the nominee, a new campaign slogan appeared everywhere. And that was, “A new way forward.” But in a campaign that’s just four weeks old, it was really an open question what “a new way forward” actually meant.

We’re not going back!

We’re not going back! We’re not going back!

And then over the course of the week, as speaker after speaker took the stage, we started to get an answer. The story of forward would be told through the story of Kamala Harris herself. And the question hanging over the week was really whether that story could appeal to a broad majority of Americans, voters outside of the convention hall who will ultimately decide the election.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Astead, welcome to the show.

Thank you for having me.

Again. The second time in a week. And I’m very excited for it.

So Astead, we had on the show on Monday to answer a question for us, that I think a lot of people have, which is, who is Kamala Harris? And you ended that conversation by saying that the Democratic Party also recognizes this reality, that for a lot of people, she is still this unknown quantity.

And that the party had a big task here at the convention this week, which was to find a way to finally tell her story. It does seem like they’ve tried to do that. Let’s walk through the case that they’re making for her. And what you’ve seen here in your reporting for your show, “The Run-Up.”

Yeah, I mean, I think that the Democrats have definitely laid out a case for her as a candidate, but also a story for her as a person. They have leaned into the different parts of her biography to really follow through on what, I think, is the best version of her campaign, which is a little bit for everybody. There is a story there about more moderate legislation, but pieces of progressive history. There’s different parts of her bio that speak to Black communities, immigrant communities.

Of course, the historic nature of her gender and the roles like that. And I really think it has followed through on what I expected for this week, which is that she seems to function politically as a mirror of some sort, where the party wants to position her as someone who basically, no matter what you’re looking for in terms of a vessel to beat Donald Trump, you can find it in this candidate.

Let’s dig into that more. Where did the convention start, that story?

Hello, Democrats!

Yeah, I think it really starts in her personal biography.

And I’m here tonight to tell you all about the Kamala Harris that I know.

They have told a story that she often tells about her being a first generation American.

Her mother moved here from India at 19.

And being a daughter of an immigrant mother who really raised two daughters in the Bay Area from working class roots. And that’s been a real thing that they’ve tried to own.

Kamala was not born into privilege. She had to work for what she’s got.

When she was young, she worked at McDonald’s.

They talk about her working at McDonald’s in college.

And she greeted every person without thousand watt smile and said, how can I help you?

I think it’s overall about trying to present this as someone who pulled himself up by bootstraps. It represents the American dream. And I think for Democrats, it really returns them back to the place they want to be. Democrats like thinking of themselves as a party who appeals to the diversity of America, both in racial ways, in gender ways, but also in class ways.

In Kamala Harris, we have a chance to elect a president who is for the middle class because she is from the middle class.

And I think they used other parts of her identity, specifically thinking about being the first Black woman to accept a major party’s nomination.

We know folks are going to do everything they can to distort her truth.

And I think Michelle Obama’s speech, specifically, spoke to the power and anxiety that sometimes that identity can bring.

My husband and I sadly know a little something about this.

For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black.

And I would also say that it was an implicit response to what Republicans and others have been trying to say, talking about Kamala Harris as a DEI hire, someone who was only in their position because of their identity. But the way that Michelle Obama framed it was that those identities have power.

I want to know. I want to know. Who’s going to tell him, who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?

Just because someone the first to be in a position, does not mean that is the only reason in the position. But it also doesn’t make those identities meaningless. The fact that she is a Black woman should be seen as a strength, not as a weakness.

Is there a risk to that, though? I mean, by openly talking about race, is there a risk that goes too far and begins to alienate voters outside the convention out in the world who they need to win in November.

I mean, there’s always a risk. But I don’t really think so. Democrats have had increasing trouble with Black voters. There’s been a downturn in Black vote share all the way dating back to 2012.

In Biden’s now suspended candidacy, that was one of the things driving his polling weaknesses was kind of tepid reception from Black voters. A pitch to them is something that is a upside of the Kamala Harris campaign. And the hope that they could consolidate that community is where any Democratic nominee needs to be as a baseline.

We both got our start as young lawyers, helping children who were abused and neglected.

One thing I noticed that came up a lot during the speeches was her background as a prosecutor. How did the party present that part of her biography?

As a prosecutor, Kamala stood up for children who had been victims of sexual abuse.

She put rapists, child molesters, and murderers behind bars.

They talk about it in the way that I think fuels what they want to say is the reason she can take on Trump, that this is someone who has stood up to bullies before, who’s not going to be intimidated easily —

And Kamala is as tough as it comes.

— who’s tough, and who doesn’t shirk away from a challenge.

And she knows the best way to deal with a coward is to take him head on, because we all know cowards are weak. And Kamala Harris can smell weakness.

I think all of that adds up to say, you can trust this person to go up against Donald Trump. You can trust this person to go up against the Republican Party, because she’s not someone who is scared.

She never runs from a fight.

A woman, a fierce woman for the people.

But then, of course, we heard about another side of Kamala Harris, a more personal side.

Yeah, and I think this is the part of Kamala Harris where I think was kind of most missing in the presidential run. Frankly, it’s the part that she keeps most private. She is a warm family member and friend.

Hello to my big, beautiful blended family up there.

And I think what the speech from her husband did was really show and lay that out.

I got married, became a dad to Cole and Ella. Unfortunately, went through a divorce, but eventually started worrying about how I would make it all work. And that’s when something unexpected happened, I ended up with Kamala Harris’s phone number.

He talks about the kind of awkwardness of their first interaction.

I got Kamala’s voicemail, and I just started rambling. “Hey, it’s Doug.”

And I think you have a real kind of sense of their genuine connection to one another.

By the way, Kamala saved that voicemail. And she makes me listen to it on every anniversary.

Like, yes, this is someone who is tough, who is taking on corporations and cartels and all of that stuff by day. But this is someone who also makes a point to cook Sunday dinner for family every week.

And she makes a mean brisket for Passover.

And makes sure to really go close to his kids and is very close with her family.

That’s Kamala. She’s always been there for our children. And I know she’ll always be there for yours, too.

Going back to the last time the Democratic Party nominated a woman, Hillary Clinton, she had presented herself in a very different way. She kind of ran away from that stuff. She was saying, I don’t bake cookies, that’s not what I do. I’m kind of out there with the men, fighting.

And this convention and this candidate, Harris, is very different. She’s a newer generation. And she can do her career and bake cookies. Those things are not in conflict. This is a different type of woman leader.

This week we talked to Senator Elizabeth Warren on “The Run-Up,” and one of the things that she mentioned was she feels that there’s been a big change from 2016, even 2020 to now. Not just the amount of women in public office, but she said they don’t have to choose between sides of themselves. And I think that’s what diversity means.

Of course, Kamala Harris can be a tough politician and also bake cookies. Hillary Clinton did that, too. It was just that she was told that was not the way that she had to present herself. What Kamala Harris is benefiting from is there’s a greater space and ability to choose multiple things at once. And so particularly if others are going to talk more directly about gender or race or other things, that kind of frees her from having the burden of doing that herself.

And in fact, Hillary Clinton, herself, did speak, of course, on day one. She talked about that glass ceiling in the history that has led to now, including her own experience in 2016.

Yeah, I thought the Hillary Clinton speech was really powerful. I think a lot of the speakers put this moment in historical context, both politically and personally.

My mother, Dorothy, was born right here in Chicago before women had the right to vote. That changed 104 years ago yesterday. And since that day, every generation has carried the torch forward. In 1972, a fearless Black congresswoman named Shirley Chisholm —

— she ran for president. In 1984, I brought my daughter to see Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman nominated for vice president. And then there was 2016, when it was the honor of my life to accept our party’s nomination for president.

The last time I was here in my hometown was to memorialize my mother, the woman who showed me the power of my own voice. My mother volunteered at the local school.

I’m the proud granddaughter of a housekeeper, Sarah Daisy, who raised her three children in a one-bedroom apartment. It was her dream to work in government, to help people.

My grandmother, the woman who helped raise me as a child, a little old white lady born in a tiny town called Peru, Kansas.

I want to talk now about somebody who’s not with us tonight. Tessie Prevost Williams was born in New Orleans not long after the Supreme Court ruled that segregated public schools were unconstitutional. That was in 1954, same year I was born. Parents pulled their kids out of the school.

There was a way that I think the candidacy and the person was placed in a long legacy, both about gender identity and racial identity that kind of teed up this Thursday as a culminating moment, both politically and I think, in a broader historical context.

Together, we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling. And you know what? On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris raising her hand and taking the oath of office as our 47th president of the United States!

I wish my mother and Kamala’s mother could see us. They would say, keep going. Shirley and Jerry would say, keep going!

I think you can do a lot to set up a candidate to be in a good position. All of this stuff adds up to some part of the puzzle, but the biggest piece is the candidate themself. At the end of the day, they have to close the deal. And I think this moment is her chance to tell her own story in a way that sometimes she has not decided to. And that’s still what this whole convention success and failure will ride on.

We’re going to watch tonight. We’re going to watch with our colleague, Reid Epstein. And you are going to have a great episode of “The Run-Up” on Friday. We will all be tuning in.

Thank you. I appreciate you doing this, Sabrina.

Really thanks a lot, Astead.

Are you a delegate?

Sorry, we caught you mid French fry eating. What’s your feeling about Kamala and what her story has been? Are you getting to know her this week? Are there things you’ve learned about her this week?

Yeah, I’m learning more and more as we go along. The more and more I learn about her, the more I’m impressed with her. I mean, she worked at McDonald’s when she was going to college to try to pay her way through.

Her very small beginnings. Not a trust fund baby type of thing. I relate to that. Like, I was on food stamps this year. So it’s like if she can do it with that background, it gives everybody hope.

Hillary was my girl. When Hillary ran, I championed her as well. But I didn’t feel this way as I feel about Harris. I’m like, do I want to run for office? If she can do it, I can. She looks just like me, right? She represents, she works at McDonald’s. She paid for every. It’s relatable. And that’s what everybody needs.

We’re going to break that glass ceiling. I’m getting teary, teary in my eyes. And it just means so much to be inclusive.

[WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

What does it mean to you that Kamala Harris is a woman? What does it mean to you that she’s a Black woman?

To have a Black woman become the president of the United States, and for her to turn the world upside down in 30 days, to know that I’m in the midst of this miraculous history is phenomenal.

One delegate who really stood out to us was Beverly Hatcher, a 76-year-old Black woman from Texas.

I was raised by a wonderful Baptist mama. I just lost her. But I am who I am because of my mother. We were always pushed to do whatever we wanted to do. I’ll never forget. I wanted to be a majorette. I taught myself, because we had no money for, what is it called, lessons

And a majorette is like the baton twirler, right?

Yes. And when I did finally try out in my 11th grade, I won right off. And my classmates, who were predominantly white, as years have gone by, have told me at class reunions and stuff, Beverly, the sleepy town of Wellington woke up.

Oh, my god, we got a Black girl getting ready to be the head majorette. But it happened because I had the drive and the will. My mother and my family stood behind me, and didn’t miss a parade, or a football game, or a basketball game.

And you see that in Harris?

Beverly, what would your mom say if she saw this?

My sisters have been telling me every day how proud my mom is. And I’m just happy. I’m happy to make her happy. Yeah.

We women, who have had mothers like Kamala, like Michelle, I remember Hillary’s mother, we women value their strength and their wisdom. And we’re just glad that they gave us a legacy to pass it on.

Thank you very much.

We’ll be right back.

Reid, hello.

OK. Kamala Harris just wrapped up her acceptance speech. Before we talk about what she said and the case she presented, tell us how her campaign was thinking about the stakes of this moment.

Sabrina, this evening was one of two opportunities, along with the debate next month, for her to speak to tens of millions of people at once. And so for that, the stakes were really high.

Her goal was to present herself as a serious person and a serious candidate, who was not the candidate who flamed out in 2019 or the unsteady vice president from the beginning of her term. She had to show that she had the gravitas to be the commander in chief, the political aptitude to reach out to the middle, and also to progressives in her party all at the same time.

A very tall order. Tell us how she went about doing that.

Good evening, everyone. Good evening.

Well, she started talking around 9:30 Chicago time to a packed United Center with 14,000 or 15,000 people, many, many wearing all white, the color of the suffragettes, a color that makes a statement just by wearing it. And when Harris took the stage —

— they erupted in a cheer that forced her for a couple of minutes to wait before she could start talking.

Thank you. OK, let’s get to business. Let’s get to business. All right.

And what did she finally say once she started talking?

She told the story of her life.

The path that led me here in recent weeks was, no doubt, unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys.

My mother, our mother, Shyamala Harris, had one of her own. And I miss her every day, and especially right now.

She talked about the influence of her mother, who raised her and her sister.

And she also taught us, “And never do anything half-assed.” And that is a direct quote. [LAUGHS]

She spoke about her family’s humble beginnings in Oakland.

Before she could finally afford to buy a home, she rented a small apartment in the East Bay.

Then she started talking about her career as a prosecutor.

In the courtroom, I stood proudly before a judge and I said five words.

She brought back one of the lines that she used in her 2020 campaign about how when she stood up in a courtroom, she began with the same words.

Kamala Harris for the people.

And she said she would bring that same philosophy to the White House, that she was not working for specific individuals, but for the people at large.

And so on behalf of the people —

Eventually she did a bigger wind up to formally accepting the nomination.

— on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender, or the language your grandmother speaks —

And listed the people on whose behalf she did so.

— on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth —

It was really a kind of a feat of speech writing to build up to this big emotional moment.

— I accept your nomination to be president of the United States of America.

And what did you make of that, how she was doing that?

It was building up this speech to be a serious political document and present her as a serious figure in this moment. And so she still has to prove to people that she is capable of being the commander in chief and running the country.

And how does she try to prove that she’s capable of being a commander in chief?

What she did was try to draw the distinction between herself and Donald Trump.

In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.

And she warns that Trump would not have guardrails on him if he were elected to a second term.

Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.

And how he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he has ever had, himself.

The speech was very clear-eyed about the stakes of the election.

They know Trump won’t hold autocrats accountable because he wants to be an autocrat himself.

There was a whole section in the middle of the speech where she ticked through, one by one, a whole series of warnings about things that Trump would do to the country if he were back in the White House.

Get this, he plans to create a national anti-abortion coordinator and force states to report on women’s miscarriages and abortions.

Simply put, they are out of their minds.

What else stuck out to you?

It was remarkable, the section of the speech where she talked about Gaza.

President Biden and I are working around the clock, because now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done.

She did not veer too far to the left.

I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself.

She managed to say things that would be appealing to both sides.

President Biden and I are working to end this war, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.

It was a remarkable moment to hear the arena erupt at the end of that section, to hear her support for both the Israelis and the Palestinians reveal that kind of enthusiasm, after the party has been really ripped apart for months about how to handle the situation.

Fellow Americans, I love our country with all my heart.

She ended this speech with a paean to patriotism.

We are the heirs to the greatest democracy in the history of the world.

She dove headlong into the American exceptionalism argument that is native to Republicans and to older generations of politicians, like Joe Biden.

It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done. Guided by optimism and faith to fight for this country we love. To fight —

But is not something you always hear from younger Democrats, who are a little less comfortable with some of the flag waving.

Let’s vote for it. And together, let us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told. Thank you. God bless you and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you all.

She seemed to really be taking aim at this criticism of her, which is that she’s this radical California liberal and she can’t be trusted with the keys to the country.

I mean, that was one of the tasks that she had tonight, was to make the argument, particularly to voters in the middle, the suburban voters that used to vote for Republicans, but have been repelled by Trump and driven to Democrats in the last several years, that they can vote for her without worrying that she’s some kind of Bernie Sanders acolyte.

And some of that is based on the way she ran her last presidential campaign. Some of it, frankly, is because she’s a Black woman from California. And that the voters who will determine this election are voters in less diverse states, for the most part.

So Reid stepping back here, it feels worth remembering just where we were at the end of the Republican National Convention that was just over a month ago. Things couldn’t have felt more different. The GOP was on top of the world, while the Democrats were in disarray over Biden’s refusal to leave the race.

And now here we are. And it feels like things couldn’t be better for the Democrats. At least that’s the feeling I’m having coming out of this convention.

I mean, the whole race has turned upside down from where it was when we left Milwaukee. And Democrats are upbeat. They are confident. It is a party that is remarkably united behind their candidate.

But you have to remember, this election will be very close. It is, indeed, a game of inches in the key battleground states. And what she was trying to do was to present herself as someone who can be trusted as commander in chief to win over the tiny slices of the electorate that will determine the winner in places like Wisconsin, and Michigan, and Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona.

And those are the states that will determine the election. And they have made a calculated decision that those voters needed to see her as a commander in chief, something they had not seen from her before. And we will see in the coming days and weeks whether she’s accomplished that in a way that brings enough of those people on board for her to win a term as president.

Reid, thank you.

Thank you, Sabrina. [WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

Here’s what else you should know today. On Thursday, the Supreme Court allowed Arizona Republicans, for now, to impose tougher voting requirements, including a new rule that people registering to vote there before the coming election must show proof of citizenship.

As a result, Arizonans newly registering to vote for this year’s presidential election must provide copies of one of several documents, such as a birth certificate or a passport, in order to prove that they are US citizens. Democrats have denounced the new rule as an attempt to prevent legal immigrants from voting.

And US Health officials have approved the latest slate of annual COVID vaccines, clearing the way for Americans six months and older to receive updated shots in the coming days. The approvals come amid a prolonged surge of COVID infections, which have risen all summer.

Remember to catch a new episode of “The Interview” right here tomorrow. This week, Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Jenna Ortega, the star of the Netflix series “Wednesday,” and the new “Bettlejuice” sequel, about her head-spinning success over the past few years.

One day I just I woke up in somebody else’s shoes. I felt like I had entered somebody else’s life. And I didn’t know how to get back to mine.

Today’s episode was produced by Lynsea Garrison, Rob Szypko, Jessica Cheung, Asthaa Chaturvedi, and Shannon Lin. It was edited by Rachel Quester, contains original music by Rowan Niemisto, Dan Powell, Diane Wong, and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

[THEME MUSIC]

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you on Monday.

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Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Astead W. Herndon and Reid J. Epstein

Produced by Lynsea Garrison Rob Szypko Jessica Cheung Asthaa Chaturvedi and Shannon Lin

Edited by Rachel Quester

Original music by Rowan Niemisto Marion Lozano Dan Powell and Diane Wong

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow ‘The Daily’ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio

Last night, at the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination, becoming the first woman of color in U.S. history to do so.

Astead W. Herndon and Reid J. Epstein, who cover politics for The Times, discuss the story this convention told about Ms. Harris — and whether that story could be enough to win the presidential election.

On today’s episode

Astead W. Herndon , a national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “ The Run-Up ” for The New York Times.

Reid J. Epstein , who covers politics for The New York Times.

Background reading

Kamala Harris promised to chart a “new way forward” as she accepted the nomination.

“The Run-Up”: It’s her party now. What’s different?

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Michael Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson, Nina Lassam and Nick Pitman.

Astead W. Herndon is a national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up.” More about Astead W. Herndon

Reid J. Epstein covers campaigns and elections from Washington. Before joining The Times in 2019, he worked at The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Newsday and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More about Reid J. Epstein

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