[The brief for the extension] It was relatively minimal and it was to do with maximizing the use of the site within certain budgetary constraints with a clear need for wall hang space effectively, for the display of sculpture and the incorporation of furniture and the artifacts which were very much part of the ambiance of the house. A key decision, really, taken early on was that the existing arrangement whereby you rang the doorbell, you pulled the rope and entered the house up two steps almost into the sitting room of the converted cottages... A key decision really was that that should remain the way the visit started so the intention established fairly early on was that the house itself should be seen. There are three levels to the house, move through that, then move into the new building via that middle level of the house because there was a bridge across the passageway which is the public approach to the front door and, at that point, it would become then a question of transition. You're moving from relatively small spaces and this is transition where the natural light levels would be changing, the spaces would be changing but that transition should be as gentle as possible.