Austen House Hampshire residence photos, English contemporary property design, Modern UK home in Twyford

Austen House in Hampshire, UK

8 December 2025

Design: Adam Knibb Architects

Location: Winchester, Hampshire, South of England, UK

Photos: Martin Gardner

Austen House, Hampshire Home Design

In the heart of Winchester, space is scarce, and the owners of Austen House needed a way to expand without compromising the character of their recently converted home. Their priority was simple but challenging: create a south-facing room with light, outlook, and a sense of calm within a highly constrained urban plot.

Adam Knibb Architects identified an unused opportunity – the narrow access way beside the house, only occasionally required for vehicles. By building above this void, the team introduced a new elevated volume that adds meaningful space without enlarging the site footprint.

The extension takes the form of a cantilevered timber box, deliberately distinct from the original building to respect its conservation-area setting. Lightly touching the existing structure, the addition projects over the access route to form a striking feature along North Walls while offering a quietly refined interior for the clients.

Vertical timber cladding and generous glazing emphasise height and bring daylight deep into the room. With neighbours close on all sides, construction was carefully managed to minimise disruption, using efficient methods and tightly controlled logistics.

The result is a sensitive yet confident intervention that transforms an overlooked gap into a warm, contemporary living space.

Architecture: Adam Knibb Architects – https://www.adamknibbarchitects.com/