Lower ground floor flat extension by ConForm Architects. Photo by James Reteif.
The appeal of extending garden flats has grown significantly with rising property prices and the increasing cost of living. Extending an existing home offers a practical solution compared to the often costly and stressful process of moving.
Since flats typically offer less space than houses, extending your garden flat not only provides additional space but can also significantly boost your property’s value.
This article showcases stunning garden flat extensions designed by architects, each offering creative solutions to space, design, and modern living challenges.
Photo by Ståle Eriksen.
Studio Hallett Ike renovated a ground-floor flat in East London, adding dark brick extensions to a Georgian townhouse. The rear extension improves access to a south-facing garden, featuring a stepped patio, large windows, and skylights. Inside, the redesigned kitchen opens into a dining room with exposed wooden beams and plywood panels.
Photo by Sonn.
Sonn Studio extended a Victorian terraced house in Hackney, London, adding a bedroom and enhancing the garden connection. The extension features pale plaster finishes and a sunken seating area near the garden. Skylights, folding glass windows, and a rotating door lead to a gravel patio.
Photo by Jim Stephenson.
Named Walled Garden, Nimtim Architects transformed a Victorian maisonette into a tranquil retreat with a master suite, timber-slatted balcony, and guest annexe. Generous rear openings frame the secluded garden, complemented by natural plaster walls, Douglas fir screens, and an exposed aggregate concrete floor.
Photo by James Reteif.
ConForm Architects extended a London flat using green terrazzo, concrete, and clay-toned plaster. The sunken rear extension enhances the connection to the garden, with skylights and angled geometric forms ensuring privacy and natural light. Inside, the open-plan kitchen and living area lead to two bedrooms.
Photo by Lorenzo Zandri.
Unknown Works renovated a Victorian flat in north London, adding side and rear extensions for an open-plan living area. Large sliding glass doors connect the space to a rear courtyard garden. The design includes bespoke timber joinery and a small internal courtyard for natural light.
Photo by Ståle Eriksen.
Studio Hallett Ike extended a Victorian flat in North London, adding a second bedroom and dining room. The minimalist design features a blackened English larch facade and Douglas fir wood panelled interiors. The kitchen and dining areas continue the material palette with terrazzo surfaces.
Photo by Kilian O'Sullivan.
Burnt House by Hayhurst & Co Architects is a small rear extension that turns a Victorian basement flat into a light-filled home. Timber cladding blends with the garden, creating an "outdoor" room. A pitched ceiling and large window frame the garden views, while a pergola-covered terrace extends the interior space.
Photo by Henry Woide.
Named London's best home improvement project in 2023, The Secret Garden Flat by Nic Howett Architect transformed a small London flat into a family home with a strong garden connection. The renovation included a new bedroom extension and a secluded garden studio.
Photo by French + Tye.
Polysmiths redesigned a basement flat in north west London, creating a "cabin in the woods" with a sunken living area surrounded by lush plants. The extension includes angled skylights and wooden cladding that blends with the garden, with light finishes for communal spaces and darker tones for private areas.
Photo by French + Tye.
Yard Architects transformed a dark basement flat in Westminster with a contemporary extension featuring large porcelain cladding and a pivoting aluminium-framed door. The design includes a side extension, creating a full-width living area with dual aspect and bespoke black-stained and white-oiled oak joinery.
Photo by Simone Bossi.
Alexander Martin Architects extended a garden flat in Hampstead Heath, adding three bedrooms and enhancing the garden connection. The extension features lowered floor levels, strategic openings for natural light, and a palette of grey render, white marble, and oak flooring.
Photo by Rory Gardiner.
Larissa Johnston Architects reconfigured and extended a maisonette, placing sleeping areas on the upper level and living spaces on the ground floor. The rear wall was removed to open up the space with full-height glass doors to the garden. The extension features a plywood box for the kitchen and staircase, contrasted by white render and dark timber.
About the author
Aron Coates, an architect with over two decades of experience, draws on his expertise in residential architecture, including historic restorations and contemporary home designs.
