Transforming a family home with a loft extension for more space and light
- A vertical extension can be an excellent solution for creating extra living space, especially if you have access to an unused loft.
- Electric windows and awning blinds offer an easy way to manage temperature and improve indoor air quality.
- Roof windows maximise sunlight, letting in up to twice as much daylight as vertical facade windows.
House or flat – the difficult choice
These days, as Line and Marco relax in the daylight-filled, penthouse-style apartment they envisioned and brought to life, they seem firmly rooted in their city-centre home.
But just a few years ago, they faced the tough decision of whether to move out of their flat and into a house. With the arrival of their third child, their fourth-floor apartment was starting to feel a bit too cramped.
The thought of moving wasn’t an appealing one for Line and Marco. Most of their family and friends lived just around the corner, and giving up that daily connection would be hard. Plus, both of them work in the city centre, so moving would mean a longer commute. They also felt they had already found their haven in a central neighbourhood that offered much of the relaxed, slow-life vibe they’d hoped to find in a suburban house.
Loft extension to the rescue
Fortunately for Line and Marco, an ideal solution to their housing dilemma emerged. They were given the chance to purchase the floor above their fourth-floor flat—a dark, unused attic space that had long served as storage. Transforming it into a liveable area took considerable effort, but it marked the beginning of a bright and happy adventure for the couple and their three children.
Line on the loft extension: “We started with a converted fourth-floor flat that combined two one-bedroom flats, giving us around 100 square meters. Now, by incorporating the attic space above, we’re up to about 170 square meters. We added a roof terrace and designed a large, open area with a bedroom and living room to highlight the architectural features. It has that classic, old-style aesthetic, which we felt suited the flat perfectly.”
Bringing daylight to every corner
When Line and Marco made the decision to extend their flat with an extra storey, they knew right away that they wanted to bring as much daylight as possible into the new space.
Line explains the factors that went into their decisions: "We were perfectly happy living on the fourth floor, despite having to struggle up the stairs with toddlers and the daily groceries. But we’re thrilled by the light we gained from the extension. Now that we could make use of the fifth floor, we had even better options for bringing in daylight. Living in a flat, there isn’t much you can do to the building’s facade, but we were free to modify the roof, so the goal was to install as many roof windows as possible. In fact, I think we applied for permission to install more, but we ended up with 17."
It makes a colossal difference when a fifth floor goes from zero to 17 roof windows, and Marco is thrilled to describe the awe-inspiring experience they had when the installers started cutting holes in the roof for the roof windows. He and Line were invited to climb the ladder for a sneak peek.
“Seeing it for the first time was mind-blowing. We’d lived here for ten years, during which time it had always been a very, very dark storage room. So when it was opened up and the light flooded in, it sent shivers down my spine. I still get that feeling sometimes.”
Before and after: The dark, unused attic was transformed into a bright and spacious living area through a loft conversion with roof windows.
A mix of electric and manual roof windows
The plan to install a total of 17 roof windows meant that Line and Marco, together with the architects, could really explore the full range of VELUX roof windows to find the best overall solution. The choice fell on 6 manual centre-pivot roof windows, 9 electric centre-pivot roof windows, and 2 manual top-operated windows. With the loft extension open all the way from the fourth floor up to the roof ridge on the fifth and a floor-to-ceiling height of nearly 10 metres, it was essential to choose electric opening windows for those that would be out of reach from floor level. A staircase was also installed beneath, connecting the two levels seamlessly.
Easy temperature adjustment
From conversations with the architects, Line and Marco became aware that the many roof windows could potentially result in excessive temperatures in the attic apartment. But by carefully selecting the right VELUX roof windows and blinds, they ended up with a solution that lets in maximum daylight, while still being able to effectively adjust the temperature for indoor comfort.
Marco explains how they went about it: “We installed blackout blinds on the inside and anti-heat blinds on the exterior, especially on the side that gets the evening sun. With exterior anti-heat blinds, we can keep the interior cooler because the sun's rays do not heat up the space so intensely. We can run the electric roof windows on a timer so they open while we're at work. By the time we get home, they'll have been open for a while, cooling the interior and airing it, so the indoor climate is nice to be in."
Embracing natural light all year round
Compared to vertical facade windows, roof windows allow up to twice as much daylight to fill a room, a difference that Marco says they really notice in the loft extension. "Being able to let in all that daylight is such a joy, especially for anyone living in a place where winter days can be quite dark. The higher you go, the more light you get, and we can definitely feel that up here. We actually have daylight all year round, both in winter and summer—even when the sun isn’t shining."
Line also emphasises the pleasure of being able to follow the path of the sun during the day. “There's light on us all the time somehow, even on a grey day. But when the sun is bright, it casts these amazing shadows into the room. And when the sun sets and rises, we get these subtle red shadows inside the flat on our white walls.
New favourite corners for children and adults
In addition to the fact that the loft extension practically gave the growing family extra living space, Marco also notes that it has given everyone in the family new favourite spots to hang out in.
"There's definitely more space for a break in your own little spot. Our youngest son has a whole section where he can play with his toys, rather than having them in the living room, like before. Also, our two older children now each have their own room, so that's made a world of difference to them."
For Line, the loft extension has also created a new favourite place. “In front of our roof terrace, we have a small step where I like to take a cushion and sit down. This is a great spot because we have a toddler coming up to his third birthday, and it puts me level with him, sitting there, reading."
A bright room to gravitate to
Line and Marco successfully realised their aim of creating a penthouse-style flat bathed in daylight. They are also happy to note that their guests are as thrilled by the new space as they are. Line says: "When we have people over, they're amazed to see how spacious the interior is up here. It's not exactly what people expect in a traditional apartment in a city."
Marco explains that the loft extension naturally draws both the family and their visitors ‘upwards.’ “We tend to head upstairs when we get home from work. We use the terrace a lot for dining whenever the weather allows - it’s been amazing to have the option of eating in the open air. We also use the space in the evenings to relax in the living room and watch television. And when friends come over, we entertain up here, too.”