Hayhurst and Co were approached by the Clients of this basement flat in a large Victorian building in the Maida Vale Conservation Area, to reconfigure the layout and create a family home which interacts with its mature rear garden.

'The concept for the design was to create a timber clad ‘outdoor’ room that embeds itself within the rich sylvan character of the garden: an intervention that softens the threshold between the mature external planting of the outside spaces and the traditional character of the Victorian rooms inside.'

This modest extension transforms the flat and provides a new kitchen and dining space. It brings in natural light and views by tilting its ceiling up towards the steep slope of the banked garden. The large picture window which looks out on to the garden, has it's sill at the same height as the planting so that it appears as if there is a wall of plants from inside, providing a landscape view which changes with the seasons.

A wooden slatted canopy continues the sloped ceiling externally and provides a partially covered, private terrace that feels like an extension of the internal spaces.

Internally, a pale muted palette of materials is used to bring natural light into the space. The parquet timber flooring and wooden boards lining the ceiling have a white-oiled finish and the kitchen units and walls are painted white.

This is in contrast with the exterior where charred larch cladding, with a rich tone and texture is used which helps to bed the extension comfortably into its landscape.