Konishi Gaffney Architects were commissioned by a couple retiring from the Far East to Edinburgh. They purchased a 1960s bungalow, designed by LDN in 1964, with plans to demolish it for a new two-story house. However, prioritizing environmental sustainability, they decided to retain and extend the existing house to preserve its embodied energy.

The design embraces the house's Japanese modernist aesthetic, connecting it with the surrounding gardens. By removing partition walls and opening the pitched roof, a spacious open-plan living area was created, offering views from front to back. The main space features a new roof with scissor trusses and a whitewashed timber deck.

A rear extension adds three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a tatami room opening onto a south-facing deck, all linked by a corridor with garden views. The entrance was reoriented to protect the tranquility of the front garden, and the garage was integrated with a pitched roof and external corridor.

The house was insulated with 180mm of external insulation for low U-values. It also features triple glazing, a ground source heat pump, solar panels, and water recycling, enhancing its environmental performance.