The House of Garnett
The House of Garnett is a project conceived of by celebrated Oxford artist and businesswoman Annie Sloan, to convert and extend one of Iffley Road’s unique Victorian villas into an artist’s studio and home. Brick-built over four storeys, the building exudes the ambition of its era and is complete with original stonework, joinery and metalwork. Its position geographically has evolved over the century since its construction. This area of Oxford although suburban when first built is now more characterised by the institutions that mark the start of the city’s centre.
Annie Sloan approached Resonant Architecture in 2021 to develop concepts for the project. Mindful of the requirements of the local conservation area we secured Planning permission in 2022.
Used as an office for many decades, layers of decoration and subdivision will be stripped back to reveal the building’s original finishes and layout. At ground floor and basement level the building will be extended to provide generous living spaces with views to a garden reclaimed from car parking, while painting and photography studios for Annie Sloan Ltd. are provided above. The extension’s design is derived from both the architectural language of the local Victorian cityscape and inspired by Annie Sloan’s own work and style.
Integral to the works will be the upgrading and improvement of the exterior facades and roof, while the garden will be overhauled, greatly improving the visual appearance of this somewhat neglected commercial property. Planted screens are proposed to provide privacy.
Due to the raised ground floor, connection between the external ground level and main living spaces of the ground floor is currently difficult and only possible via steep steps at the front of the house. The proposed extension moves the primary living spaces (kitchen, dining) to the basement level and connects them directly to the garden and ground floor via the new extension. This connection will allow the residents of this urban home to enjoy a natural setting and provides a valuable oasis of biodiversity on the edge of central Oxford.
