43 Mountain View is a carefully considered retrofit and rear extension project to a traditional terraced house located within the Cockermouth Conservation Area. The project demonstrates how older homes can be upgraded to support modern living while improving energy efficiency and respecting historic character.

The existing property suffered from a fragmented layout, limited connection to the garden, and poor thermal performance. Our design approach focused on simplifying the plan, retaining as much original fabric as possible, and introducing a clearly defined contemporary extension to the rear.

The proposal creates a generous kitchen and dining space opening onto the garden, improving daylight, usability, and connection to outdoor space. Internal reconfiguration at ground floor level provides flexible living accommodation, improved circulation, and practical spaces suited to family life.

Given the conservation area context, the street-facing elevation remains largely unchanged. The new extension is deliberately modest in scale and clearly subordinate to the original building, with a roof form and materials that respond sensitively to the surrounding terrace while remaining legible as a modern addition.

A fabric-first retrofit strategy underpins the project, including internal wall insulation suitable for solid masonry construction, improved roof insulation, and airtightness upgrades. Heating and hot water are provided by an air source heat pump, with solar PV proposed on discreet roof planes to reduce operational energy demand and future-proof the home.