A single-storey configuration, with a ‘soft’ roof, allows for vertical and lateral expansion.

With its vast experience in upmarket homes, Nico van der Meulen Architects discusses unlocking the potential of additions and alterations in residential architecture. 

As owner and founder, Nico van der Meulen, explains, the firm goes beyond designing contemporary residences to explorative addition and alteration projects that balance functionality and aesthetics.  

“Each client is unique, and so is every project. We strive to blend practical and creative solutions to ensure an exceptional outcome,” he says. 

Helsinki Residence was an addition alteration project designed by Nico van Der Meulen, nearly 15 years ago. The strong and bold linear forms amplify the aesthetics the clients appreciated from the original home.

Practical factors 

Van der Meulen identifies the following practical factors when working on an existing home: 

• Investment feasibility, informed by neighbourhood dynamics and market trends. 
• Local authority regulations that may impact the project’s scope. 
• The orientation and structural integrity of the existing building, whether single-storey or multiple levels. 

Utilising natural features embeds harmony between built form and landscape. For the Tate Close Residence, large slabs of blade-cut limestone anchor the design, grounding it in the earth and connecting it harmoniously with the site’s natural beauty.

Beyond these technical considerations, one should also focus on the following five critical design opportunities: 

Vision and goals 

“The client’s spatial, lifestyle and amenity aspirations serve as the guiding framework,” says Van der Meulen. 

The design process aims to produce spatial compositions that embody personalised notions of comfort and maximise everyday functionality. 

Maximising investment 

Identify design interventions that align with the client’s objectives, while also incentivising long-term value appreciation. This can be in property appraisal, or improved quality of life for the client, through considered spatial reconfiguration and materiality. 

Site conditions 

Leveraging the site’s unique contextual attributes, such as vistas, vegetation and topography, inform design principles that foster site-responsive architecture. Van der Meulen advises taking inspiration from these features. 

“As with any design, utilise natural features to embed harmony between built form and landscape,” he says. 

The orientation of the current buildings is critical. If it is impossible to configure the building to face north in the southern hemisphere, Van der Meulen does not recommend proceeding. 

Energy efficiency 

“Sustainability is integral to modern design,” Van der Meulen asserts.  

Therefore, embedding passive strategies, such as optimised building orientation, natural ventilation, daylight access and sun control, is key. The architectural response integrates ecological considerations. It creates energy-efficient environments that are also aesthetically compelling, with flexibility for active systems integration. 

Strategic additions and alterations open expansive possibilities for transforming high-end residential architecture. At the Bayview Residence, the building was opened up as much as possible to maximise ocean vistas and creating an open plan fit for contemporary living.

Strategic property selection 

When sourcing renovation projects, Van der Meulen advises that priority should be given to properties that facilitate flexible design solutions. “Recently constructed residences often present constraints – we therefore recommend selecting existing buildings,” he says. 

His preference is single-storey configurations with a “soft” roof, i.e. timber or lightweight roofing. This enhances the potential for vertical and lateral expansion, streamlining structural reconfiguration and minimising retrofit costs. 

Strategic additions and alterations open expansive possibilities for transforming high-end residential architecture. By aligning design innovation with technical feasibility, Van der Meulen advocates for architecture that realizes the client’s vision through adaptive, contextually harmonious interventions. 

Issue: What is the potential of additions and alterations for upmarket housing? 

Solution: Nico van der Meulen Architects shares five design interventions. 

Full acknowledgment and thanks go to Nico van der Meulen Architects for the information in this article.