A ground floor extension to a small 1950’s infill house in south London creating an open plan kitchen-dining area with a better connection to the rear garden.
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Taking inspiration from the Case Study Houses of the 1950's and domestic Japanese architecture, a Douglas fir structural grid spans across the rear of the house and extends out into the garden blurring the threshold between inside and out. Large format rooflights positioned within the grid introduce high levels of light to kitchen work surfaces and areas in the middle of the plan.

The owner wanted to create a warm, contemporary environment overlooking the garden. Full height, Douglas fir sliding doors and windows provide views and access out to the garden. A deep grey screed floor unifies the space and provides underfloor heating. An exposed ‘English buff’ brick wall runs the full length of the extension and continues out to the garden. Off-the-shelf kitchen carcasses are finished with translucent white plywood door fronts and oak and marble worktops.

A new W.C. and utility room make use of the darker areas in the middle of the floor plan and improve the home’s practicality. In the rear garden, a newly planted pear tree acts as a visual focal point. Berberis, hebes, yellow yarrow, Turkish sage and climbing honeysuckle provide colour and comprise the rest of the planting scheme.