The Old Schoolhouse Transformation
LOCATION
Worcestershire
SCOPE
Schoolhouse conversion, extension and interior design development
The challenge
The clients had purchased a former schoolhouse and were converting it into a home alongside a substantial new extension.
With builders already on site, several important design decisions were still unresolved. They were struggling to picture how the original school hall would work as an open-plan kitchen, dining and social space, and were unsure how the new stairwell should be designed in a way that respected the character of the old building while also fitting comfortably with the new extension.
They also wanted to explore window and door colours, as they found it difficult to judge what would best suit both the historic architecture and the new contemporary elements of the design. At that stage, they had not yet reached agreement on the direction and wanted to see the options properly before making a final decision.
In addition, they were not convinced by the architect’s proposed master bedroom and ensuite layout, but found it difficult to judge the alternatives from drawings alone. They wanted a way to properly see and compare the options before those decisions became harder or more expensive to change.
What we explored
We recreated the proposed scheme in VR so the clients could experience both the original schoolhouse and new extension at true scale while the build was still progressing.
The former school hall was developed as an open-plan kitchen, dining and social space, helping the clients understand how the room could function for everyday living while retaining the scale and character of the original architecture.
For the stairwell, we explored several material combinations, showing how choices around structure, balustrades and finishes could create very different results within the same space.
We also reviewed different window and door colour options, allowing the clients to see how each one worked against both the original building and the new extension. Experiencing these choices in context helped them move beyond assumptions about what they thought they would prefer, and compare the options more objectively.
The master bedroom and ensuite were also reviewed in detail. Alongside visualising the architect’s original proposal, we developed an alternative layout so the clients could compare both options directly and make a more confident decision.
CLIENT FEEDBACK
Seeing the different options in VR made it much easier for them to agree on decisions they had been struggling with. By the end of the session, they had reached agreement on several key choices around layout, materials, the staircase and window and door colours.
Clients’ feedback during VR session
The outcome
The VR session gave the clients a much clearer understanding of the design and, importantly, helped them reach agreement on a number of decisions they had previously viewed differently.
By experiencing the options together at true scale, they were able to compare layouts, materials, staircase approaches, and window and door colours in context rather than relying on drawings or imagination alone.
By the end of the session, they had aligned on several key design choices, including decisions where each had originally preferred a different direction. It gave them the confidence to move forward with a shared vision while construction was already underway.
