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Charlton Park Gate

  • RRA Architects was commissioned to extend and remodel a tired 1970s house in one of Cheltenham’s premier residential areas, creating a contemporary home with open-plan kitchen garden living, an internal courtyard, roof terrace, refined interiors and an elegant glass and stainless-steel staircase.
  • Client: Private Client
  • Status: Completed 2008
  • Location: Cheltenham
  • Contractor: M&S Construction
  • Structural Engineer: Clarke Nicholson Marcel
  • Photo Credits: Christopher Cornwell of Christopher Cornwell Photography and Chris Preece of Infinity Unlimited
  • Categories: Bespoke Homes, Residential-Private Housing
  • Tags: Cheltenham Architects, Cheltenham Home Remodelling, Contemporary Home, Glass Staircase, Gloucestershire Architects, House Extension, Internal Courtyard, Residential Remodelling, resin floor, Roof Terrace
Rear elevation of Charlton Park Gate, showing the Cheltenham house extension and contemporary renovation with large glazed ground floor openings, roof terrace, glass balustrades, white rendered gables, roof glazing, stone cladding and landscaped outdoor areas.
Interior view towards the front entrance at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a contemporary hallway with poured resin floor, modern artwork, wall lighting, internal doorways and clean architectural detailing.
Double-height interior space at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a glass and stainless-steel helical staircase, large feature chandelier, glass balustrades, coloured lighting, polished floor and open-plan living areas.
Glass courtyard and route to the roof terrace at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing full-height glazing, purple feature lighting, stone wall cladding, staircase, sliding glass doors and warm interior lighting.
Contemporary interior at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a textured stone feature wall with blue lighting, leather armchair, dark furniture, polished floor and a view through to the glass staircase.
Contemporary kitchen at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a large dark island, integrated wall units, stainless-steel sink, pendant light, coloured feature lighting, stone wall and views towards the hallway.
Open-plan living area at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, viewed at dusk, showing white sofas, coloured lighting, glass doors, patterned wall finish, seating nook and a contemporary lounge space.
Breakfast room at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing built-in brown leather banquette seating, patterned wallpaper, pendant light, dark table, soft cushions and warm concealed lighting within the contemporary interior.
Internal courtyard at Charlton Park Gate Cheltenham house extension, showing full-height glazing, a staircase rising beside a stone wall, sliding glass doors, a white sofa and views through to the roof terrace route.
Roof terrace sits atop the Cheltenham house extension, showing outdoor seating, glass balustrades, planters, decking, roof glazing, patio doors and views towards the landscaped garden at dusk.
Close view of the roof terrace material palette at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing decking, glass balustrade, sliding doors, textured stone cladding, external lighting, planting and warm interior light.
First floor hallway at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing dark timber flooring, glazed roof, sliding doors to the roof terrace, grey wall finishes, white chair and warm step lighting.
Bedroom and partitioned ensuite at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a freestanding bath, bold pink wall, patterned dark wallpaper, bed, pendant lights, soft furnishings and contemporary interior finishes.
Rear elevation of Charlton Park Gate at dusk, showing the Cheltenham house extension and contemporary home renovation with large full-height glazed doors, illuminated open-plan living spaces, roof terrace, planters, white rendered gables, garden terrace, pond and mature tree branches framing the view.
Before photograph of the rear elevation of Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing the original 1970s red brick house before RRA Architects extended and remodelled it, with a conservatory, balcony, patio doors, paved terrace, lawn, garden furniture and mature planting.
Before photograph of the original kitchen at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing timber kitchen cabinets, an island unit, display cupboards, fridge, microwave, wooden floor, internal doors and the darker enclosed layout before the house was extended and remodelled by RRA Architects.
  • Rear elevation of Charlton Park Gate, showing the Cheltenham house extension and contemporary renovation with large glazed ground floor openings, roof terrace, glass balustrades, white rendered gables, roof glazing, stone cladding and landscaped outdoor areas.
  • Interior view towards the front entrance at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a contemporary hallway with poured resin floor, modern artwork, wall lighting, internal doorways and clean architectural detailing.
  • Double-height interior space at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a glass and stainless-steel helical staircase, large feature chandelier, glass balustrades, coloured lighting, polished floor and open-plan living areas.
  • Glass courtyard and route to the roof terrace at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing full-height glazing, purple feature lighting, stone wall cladding, staircase, sliding glass doors and warm interior lighting.
  • Contemporary interior at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a textured stone feature wall with blue lighting, leather armchair, dark furniture, polished floor and a view through to the glass staircase.
  • Contemporary kitchen at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a large dark island, integrated wall units, stainless-steel sink, pendant light, coloured feature lighting, stone wall and views towards the hallway.
  • Open-plan living area at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, viewed at dusk, showing white sofas, coloured lighting, glass doors, patterned wall finish, seating nook and a contemporary lounge space.
  • Breakfast room at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing built-in brown leather banquette seating, patterned wallpaper, pendant light, dark table, soft cushions and warm concealed lighting within the contemporary interior.
  • Internal courtyard at Charlton Park Gate Cheltenham house extension, showing full-height glazing, a staircase rising beside a stone wall, sliding glass doors, a white sofa and views through to the roof terrace route.
  • Roof terrace sits atop the Cheltenham house extension, showing outdoor seating, glass balustrades, planters, decking, roof glazing, patio doors and views towards the landscaped garden at dusk.
  • Close view of the roof terrace material palette at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing decking, glass balustrade, sliding doors, textured stone cladding, external lighting, planting and warm interior light.
  • First floor hallway at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing dark timber flooring, glazed roof, sliding doors to the roof terrace, grey wall finishes, white chair and warm step lighting.
  • Bedroom and partitioned ensuite at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing a freestanding bath, bold pink wall, patterned dark wallpaper, bed, pendant lights, soft furnishings and contemporary interior finishes.
  • Rear elevation of Charlton Park Gate at dusk, showing the Cheltenham house extension and contemporary home renovation with large full-height glazed doors, illuminated open-plan living spaces, roof terrace, planters, white rendered gables, garden terrace, pond and mature tree branches framing the view.
  • Before photograph of the rear elevation of Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing the original 1970s red brick house before RRA Architects extended and remodelled it, with a conservatory, balcony, patio doors, paved terrace, lawn, garden furniture and mature planting.
  • Before photograph of the original kitchen at Charlton Park Gate in Cheltenham, showing timber kitchen cabinets, an island unit, display cupboards, fridge, microwave, wooden floor, internal doors and the darker enclosed layout before the house was extended and remodelled by RRA Architects.

Cheltenham home remodelling

RRA Architects was commissioned to revisit this tired 1970s house in one of Cheltenham’s premier residential areas, extending and remodelling the property to create a generous contemporary home.

The brief was to update the style to a very contemporary family home whilst also opening up the existing layout to bring more light into the interior and improve the connection between the house and its landscaped gardens. The project included a ground floor rear extension, creating a large open-plan living space connecting the kitchen, casual dining area, garden room and hall with the formal dining area and separate family day room

This Cheltenham home remodelling project transformed the way the house works. The new rear extension gave the home a much stronger relationship with the garden and also created the platform for an elevated roof terrace above.

Light, movement and elegance

The entrance of the remodelled house has a new double-height hallway with an illuminated stainless-steel and glass helical staircase. This sculptural feature gives the home a refined sense of arrival and brings movement, reflection and colour into the centre of the plan.

The project also introduced an internal courtyard at the heart of the plan, which became a key part of the remodelling strategy. More than just an external pocket of space, the courtyard brings natural light deep into the house, creates views between different living areas and helps the interior feel more open, layered and connected.

A second feature staircase rises through the internal courtyard to reach the roof terrace above the rear extension. This turns the route to the terrace into a carefully considered architectural moment, linking the courtyard, upper floor and outdoor living space.

Inside-outside living

The rear extension was key to creating the main open-plan kitchen garden living space. A substantial eight-metre sliding glazed screen opens the interior towards the garden, creating a generous inside-outside living area that feels bright, flexible and sociable.

Above, the roof terrace provides an elevated outdoor space with views across the mature, landscaped, south-facing gardens. Together, the extension, internal courtyard, glazed stair, roof terrace and garden create a much stronger connection between inside and outside.

The ground floor was finished with a poured resin floor, specified in the same material, colour and finish used at The Dorchester hotel in London at the time. This gave the open-plan living space a seamless, polished surface that helped reflect light through the interior while adding to the home’s refined, high-end feel.

Throughout the project, RRA worked with the client to turn a dated property into a confident contemporary residence, combining extension, remodelling, elegant lighting, carefully selected materials and framed views.

Project highlights

  • Extension and remodelling of a tired 1970s Cheltenham house
  • Ground floor rear extension creating open-plan kitchen garden living
  • Separate contained living room and family day room
  • New double-height entrance hall
  • Illuminated stainless-steel and glass helical staircase
  • Internal courtyard bringing light into the centre of the house
  • Second feature staircase leading from the internal courtyard to the roof terrace
  • Eight-metre sliding glazed screen
  • Poured resin floor
  • Elevated roof terrace created above the rear extension
  • Upgraded interior fittings and finishes
  • Improved connection between living spaces, courtyard, terrace and garden
  • Contemporary lighting, glass details and refined material palette