The transformation of this one bedroom flat has been carefully and skilfully considered by the architects.

A ground floor wrap around extension creates valuable extra floor area and enables the existing flat layout to be completely transformed. A new open plan living, dining and kitchen space overlooks the rear garden while the existing front reception room has become a large double bedroom. In the middle of the plan is a light well which provides natural light to a double and single bedroom. Behind the single bedroom is a basin vanity/storage area which you pass through to get to a small, but perfectly formed, bathroom, complete with freestanding bath and direct external access.

The scheme has been designed so each living space has a degree of separation, yet they borrow from adjacent areas where needed.  Colour has been used to zone each space while finishes such as cork and microcement tie everything together. Within the open plan living space a yellow kitchen island and retained fireplace help define the cooking and dining areas respectively.

High quality, expensive materials are used strategically to minimise costs while tall ceilings, large format windows and mirrors give the impression of light and space to what would otherwise be considered as confined areas.

A limited budget called for innovative and unconventional construction techniques. Minimal ground works comprising of only three small pad foundations  and a fully insulated timber frame structure provide a thin, thermally-efficient construction, maximising all available space. The finished result is a high quality, yet budget-friendly home.

The project bought back to life an elegant 3 storey semi-detached townhouse, in Richmond West London. Despite the very desirable location and a lovely rear garden, the house had fallen on hard times and had been on the market for several years. The potential was obvious but so was the the amount of work required.

My clients had however not been able to find what they wanted and decided to take the plunge. Being in such a poor state in many ways made things clearer; not much of the original house was worth saving; we retained the roof structure and external walls but not much else. The brief was however to work with and respect and to reinstate where needed the proportions and detailing of the original house.

From the front it does indeed appear that not much has changed. Apart from the new front garden and the care to repair the front elevation of the house, you could be forgiven for thinking this was a restoration project. To the rear however the changes were more significant with an extension from the 60’s replaced with a larger and more open lower ground floor, with a new bedroom above. Being in a conservation area, planning constraints were significant, and it meant that a double pitched roof was all that was acceptable on the first floor. Whilst a little frustrating at the time, in many ways this suited the clients' approach which was not to fight against the victorian architecture, and the it sits happily as a friendly neighbour to next door houses.

This desire to form a coherent whole continued to the detailing of the extension which is built in matching brickwork to blend seamlessly with the existing house. A band of vertical bricks to the ground floor under a concrete coping is the only really modern detailing, apart from a simple green oak pergola which spans over French doors and a corner glazed window. The garden, always a major attraction, was re-planted, and has benefitted from the hot and wet weather. It already looks well established with an old vine creeping along the pergola to provide shading to the kitchen.

To the side of the house, a small kitchen window and a larger window to the stairwell were punched through the side wall to bring daylight into the centre of the house. A new side door with steps down from the front garden allows direct day-to-day access from the side alley straight to the kitchen.

Inside, the house was completely re-planned and the old and uncomfortable staircase replaced. This leads directly from the front door down to the kitchen and dining space. A glazed pantry alongside gives a sense of space as well as an unpretentious view of hard working storage space. Elsewhere on the lower floor there is a cloak room and utility room and a cosy study facing the street which is nestled below the front garden level.

On the upper floor the main reception room was enlarged with the master bathroom behind, and master bedroom in the new pitched roof extension. This has exposed painted rafters and a view over the garden. There are a further 3 bedrooms on the top floor to create a balanced 4 bedroom house with the option of the study being transformed into a 5th bedroom at a later date if needed.  

Because of the extent of the work we were able to install insulation to the entire external envelope. Together with new windows and a whole house ventilation system the energy efficiency of the house has been transformed. This is however all hidden with the interior defined instead by panelled doors, cornice and ceiling roses with a the clients own neutral colour palette with occasional bands of colour. Views through and past different spaces add to an overall sense of order and calm.

Words from Sam Tisdall Architects

Located on a brownfield site on the edge of Warkworth, overlooking the Coquet estuary in Northumberland is a new build Passivhaus designed by MawsonKerr, the design responds to both the client's needs and the landscape.

The house is organised around an upside down layout with the bedrooms on the ground floor clustered around a private courtyard garden which keeps the spaces quiet and intimate. The open plan living, dining and kitchen space are located on the first floor and use this elevated position to take advantage of the long expansive views across the estuary with splayed and corner windows. From here there is access to a large terrace which overlooks the courtyard and continues the theme of inside outside living. The layout responds to the clients’ passions and needs allowing for activities such as music recitals whilst future-proofing the house for long term living.

This careful consideration to the client’s brief is further captured by creating places throughout the house to display her collections of objects picked up throughout her life’s work and travel.

MawsonKerr's design maximises views and daylight whilst being a friendly neighbour to the existing houses around it. The form and materials of the house draw influence from the agricultural structures found locally, this coupled with crisp detailing gives a familiar yet contemporary approach to the design.

The clients' and architect's passion for sustainable living is evident in the choice of materials with low embodied carbon and the use of very little energy to heat the house. Electricity is generated by the PV array on the roof which runs the ground source heat pump and the EV charger. The project increases local biodiversity, with a green roof, rainwater harvesting and two ponds to accommodate visiting wildlife.

The house is fabricated from factory built timber cassettes filled with wood fibre insulation. It minimises the use of concrete and uses no structural steel, all helping to achieved exceptional airtightness and thermal performance.

The design, attention to detail and the newly learnt skills of the local contractors enabled Godwit house to be a certified Passivhaus, the most northerly in England.

This Edwardian terrace in Muswell Hill, north London, has been extended and refurbished by its architect owner Ben Ridley of Architecture for London to create a comfortable, low energy home.

The project was built on a relatively constrained budget of £250K (a significant sum but represents good value for a whole house refurbishment built to a high standard in London) and aims to be an exemplar for the sustainable refurbishment of typical terraced housing in London. Both embodied energy and energy in-use have been considered in depth.

Design features include triple glazing, a continuous airtight layer and insulation to the entire building envelope. To preserve the architectural quality of the building, the front elevation is insulated internally while the side and rear elevations are thermally upgraded with external wall insulation. Wood fibre insulation was chosen for its combination of thermal performance and environmental credentials.

Masonry nib walls were retained at ground floor to avoid energy-intensive steel box frames. Natural materials including stone, timber and lime plaster were used throughout rather than cement-based products.

The rear extension is built in highly insulated 172 millimetre SIPS panels and all existing building elements have been upgraded to achieve a Passivhaus standard U-value of 0.15, or better.

A MVHR system provides pre-heated fresh air, creating a warm and comfortable home. The system also filters the incoming air, removing pollen, diesel particulates and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to create a healthy indoor environment.

Natural materials are used throughout the interior. In the kitchen extension, cupboards are veneered in oak, while the floor, worktops, and window seat are formed in grey limestone. In the living room, the old plasterboard ceiling has been removed to reveal the original timber beams. External walls throughout the home, are finished with lime plaster to create an airtight layer and a warm interior ambience. Upstairs in the master bedroom, the floor and many of the furnishings are finished in Douglas fir. Fluted limestone and an oak vanity unit feature in the main bathroom.

The rear garden has been richly planted right up to the facade of the extension with low lying native ferns and taller tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) for visual impact.

Low energy house has been shortlisted in the Don't Move Improve awards 2023.

Emil Eve architects have carried out a complete refurbishment of a four bed Victorian house with a ground floor rear extension and loft room for a young couple and their two pet cats.

The client wanted a space that would feel open, light and airy but which also have a sense of intimacy. The use of natural materials was also a request of the client and this informed the use of Douglas fir for the structure of the extension as well as the external cladding and interior joinery; this provides the spaces with warmth and emphasises the sense of intimacy whilst at the same time creating a cohesive palette throughout the house.

On the ground floor, the space is opened up to allow light into the plan through an internal courtyard and the back wall of the house is glazed to allow direct interaction with the garden. The rear wall is splayed on an angle to maximise solar orientation and the tall glazed doors and deep-framed timber windows direct natural light throughout the day and create framed views through and across the house.

In the courtyard, there is a concealed mirror between cladding slats which cleverly extends the exterior space and reflects light deep into the plan. Upstairs, a zinc clad roof extension creates a bright new bedroom with en suite.

Natural materials bring warmth and a sense of calm to the home. The breathable lime plaster walls give a soft texture to the changing light throughout the day, and earthy terracotta tiles in the back garden complement the colour and grain of the Douglas fir.

Close collaboration between the architects and builder allowed for refined detailing in the exposed timber structure, cladding and joinery. The bespoke crafted elements include an extra- deep window seat that curves along the full length of a wall to form an extended dining bench and a glazed screen wall which connects the piano room to the hall and stairs.

Sustainability was a guiding principle for the project, with a focus on low embodied carbon materials and breathable construction.

Waghorn Street was longlisted in the Don't Move Improve awards 2023.

Text from the Architect:-

Located in the Claddach Valley, a small sparsely populated township in the north west of North Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, the 11 Acre plot looks out over a tidal lagoon fed by the wild North Atlantic.

The owners Ewan (a former Olympian Curler) and his wife Amy Macdonald embarked on this project to give them a generous getaway for their family to spend time away from their home in Inverness and embrace island life, lay down roots and adopt the cultural and community based ideals of life in North Uist.

Construction on the Island is severely limited by supplies, labour and a two hour ferry ride to access the nearest port of Loch Maddy, coupled with the harsh and unpredictable Hebridean weather conditions. A traditional on site build would be a costly and very time consuming process.

Architects, Koto Design and construction experts Unnos Systems proposed a modular build, a sculptural, minimal house, where the majority of construction would take place in a factory in the Welsh countryside. The building would then be shipped in 7 prefabricated modules, travelling 570 miles across land and sea to reach their final destination, to the remote, other-worldly island of Uist to be assembled.

After material procurement, the build began in April 2022 in Wales and was handed over to Ewan and Amy in October 2022, fully furnished and ready to be called home.

The building takes a fabric first approach to sustainability with passive house standards of airtightness and insulation, triple glazing and all electric heating and water systems. Crucially the embodied carbon was a top priority with all of the primary structure being constructed from bespoke engineered timber box beams and pumped with cellulose insulation. This provides an incredibly strong structure to withstand the extreme wind loads in this location but is also un-compromising in its approach to reducing the amount of carbon emitted during the build.

One of the main advantages of modular homes is that the building techniques, coupled with technological developments allow for the designs to become innovative.

The Koto House roof pitches all align with the fall of the land making a more sympathetic composition. The wide plot took advantage of the beautiful views, light and wide skies. From the site, the distant views look through the inlet, past Vallay Island towards Harris and the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. This view informed the key design elements of the house.

The idea has been to embrace the scenery and moving seascape. Large framed and dramatic windows allow for a continuous dialogue with the outdoors, integrated window seats covered in textured linens. Cosy nooks creating small serene sanctuaries, allowing for hibernation from the ever- shifting, wild weather. Reconnecting the inhabitants to the natural rhythms of nature and the passage of time in their daily lives.

The internal spaces for Koto House are equally matched to the considered exterior form. Thought and design revolve around a deep interest in how the house will be used. Muted earthy tones, natural pigments on the walls, timber floors and natural fabrics provide tactile textures. Colours that harmonise with the landscape chosen to harness the beauty of the outdoors.

The internal floor area is 206 sqm with a large amount of this being dedicated to the central living space, a fluid space dedicated for family and friends to spend time together, making memories, in this breathtaking landscape.

This project is a well worked collaboration between client and architect. Nimtim began work on the project post planning and worked closely with the client to develop the internal layouts and material palette within the constraints of the approval.

The client wanted to create a home which was open and connected but not cavernous. Nimtim proposed a master suite on the first floor which has its own private living space and a large bathroom with views out over the garden. An internal timber slatted balcony off the bedroom allows a connection between the bedrooms, the living space and the garden.

The proposal also included the ability to partition off the front part of the lower ground floor of the house as a separate annexe for guests with its own separate entrance. This was achieved through a discretely located door and kitchenette.

By extending the rear of the lower ground floor out into the garden, the living space, dining area and kitchen are opened up and are afforded a large Douglas fir framed skylight which floods the space with light. The balcony from the floor above overlooks this space.

The openings to the rear of the extension are generous, creating a focal point and framing views from the living spaces and the main bedroom to the secluded and richly planted garden.

Nimtim worked with the client to decide on a palette of materials, they agreed that they 'wanted the materials to have a rich and timeless quality and to be discrete enough to provide a backdrop to the client’s collection of art, books and furniture'.

A natural plaster was used for all new walls and partitions which gave a soft and diffuse quality to the light. Douglas fir timber screens and slatted floor planks allow light to permeate permitting glimpses between spaces reinforcing this sense of connection. In contrast against this natural palette is the stainless steel kitchen creating visual interest and reflecting light.

A datum, defined by the height of the walls in the rear garden is continued throughout. Initially by the continuation of a similar brick internally and then by the introduction of a picture rail or a change in material texture. An exposed aggregate concrete floor extends from the principle living space into the garden to reinforce the connection with the walled garden.

Nimtim’s concept for the garden was to create something that would be beautiful to look at but that also defined ‘moments’ within it. They proposed lush foliage, ornamental grasses and ferns that could withstand the South facing aspect and equally thrive in the dappled light beneath the canopies of established trees beyond the property. Within this, two seating areas are defined, separated by a wildlife pond and path interwoven with the planting creating moments for pause and contemplation.

McGinlay Bell Architects have designed a new build four bed home within a secluded suburban road in Bearsden. The plot was previously a domestic tennis court with mature pine trees around its perimeter.

The concept for the house was of an open plan pavilion wrapped around a two storey brick accommodation block, the single storey pavilion is carved into with a series of external courtyards, these help to define each zone and allow the natural surroundings to interact with the interior space.

The Client, a young professional couple, wanted a contemporary and well crafted, four bedroom dwelling with open plan living spaces that would cater for different functions of daily life as well as providing a suitable backdrop for entertaining friends and family.

Located at the entrance of the house, are the quiet spaces, the family snug, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a staircase up to the master bedroom suite. From this cluster of mainly insular spaces, you are led past the first open courtyard, which is looked out on to by the snug, towards the entertaining spaces which open up to the rear of the house. The large kitchen/dining space is open on three sides to 3 different external courtyards and is flooded with light, this then connects through to the living room which is open on two sides to the courtyards and with views out to the mature pine trees.

These open courtyards allow the spaces to be adaptable with the full height sliding doors opening up to allow the external spaces to be used as an extension of the interior for larger family gatherings during the summer. They give the spaces a greater sense of openness and exploit the views and nature around them, they also allow for different lighting conditions throughout the day which provide further character to the spaces.

These adaptable volumes take reference from Mid-century American Case Study Houses, where lightweight glazed structures open out on to the external space with views of the landscape for entertaining and relaxed family living.

Specially designed curtains are provided to allow the occupant to manage light levels throughout the different seasons as natural light changes. They also provide a degree of flexibility offering screening and privacy of spaces when required.

Bespoke walnut screens and furniture provide the internal spaces with a sense of warmth and atmosphere whilst also offering ample storage and the concealment of servicing. Some of these screens can slide open to reveal discrete bookshelves, home entertainment and a cocktail bar depending on their particular use. It is through one of these family of screens, that the client and their family can retire to the private bedrooms offering a sense of seclusion and privacy for sleeping and bathing.

Each piece of the bespoke walnut furniture is designed with its use and the the client's daily requirements in mind, such as vanity units, a master- closet and office desks.

McGinlay Bell use materials as decoration throughout the spaces rather than introducing additional ornamentation, the wood grain of the walnut is complemented throughout by a palette of simple, high quality materials including polished concrete floors and micro-cement plaster.

'We had a high expectation of craftsmanship, just like the Arts and Crafts designers would have done in their day. We avoided concealing construction behind plaster finishes, choosing to detail the timber roof so that its construction is visible and selecting a relatively light tone brick that’s exposed internally.'

Flitch House is a garden room extension to a Category B Listed house in Edinburgh, it was originally built in 1895 and designed by Alexander Hunter Crawford ( a notable Edinburgh architect at the turn of the twentieth century).

The house is at the end of a short terrace of 4 villas, unusual in their red brick and mock timber facades which is more in keeping with the emerging middle-class suburbs in England at the time than the buff sandstone of upper class Edinburgh.

Oliver Chapman Architects have designed the new addition as a contemporary interpretation of Arts & Crafts ideals, they have used a subtle muted material palette with light-coloured Petersen brick, Douglas fir and oxidised copper. Craftsmanship is the main focus of the design and the new extension allows for the ground floor space to be reorganised with new living and dining room areas which are cleverly linked together as a sequence of spaces which accommodate entertaining as well as modern family life.

The kitchen is positioned at the heart of the plan and from it the new garden room allows the new spaces to gradually step down towards the garden, at each level change bespoke joinery marks the transition with seating, steps and storage. The warm grey of the Architop micro-concrete floor internally sits comfortably with the Caithness terrace outside.

The Arts and crafts ethos is embraced with the use of exposed materials in the extension, getting the most out of each material and illustrating clarity of form and construction. The light-coloured brick complements the existing red brick and the timber roof is expressed with the flitch beams, thin steels sandwiched between thick timbers to increase their strength and span, which allow the roof to lift up at the edges to allow views out to the Firth of Forth.

Care has been taken to bring as much light as possible into the sheltered north-facing extension. The walls and roof were thickened to maximise thermal performance, allowing for a larger glazed area, while the roof steps back from the house to form a rooflight, bringing light deep into the plan.

An area is created by the thick walls for the sofa and an enclosed bookcase  – a modern twist on the traditional ‘Edinburgh press’ (doorway shaped recessed cupboard). Off the dining area, a small drinks nook lined with Douglas fir panels provides a space for the Client to prepare drinks when entertaining, the panelling references back to the existing panelled alcove around the fireplace in the kitchen. These pockets of space are characteristic of the Arts & Crafts approach, creating intimate moments off the main room.

While the early Arts & Crafts movement was a reaction against the technological advances of the Industrial Revolution, Flitch House combines the clients’ appreciation for craft and natural materials with their desire for a ‘smart home’, including wireless lighting and automated blinds. As the architect's put it; 'this is arts and crafts without the bell pull.'

As is the case with many speculative homes built in the 1980s in the UK, the original layout was dark and cramped and consisted of a series of small individual rooms with limited views and access to the outside. 

The architect’s brief was to create a light-filled, open plan interior that would act as a refuge from the outside world and link the kept garden at the front with the wild, informally planted garden at the rear of the site.

The new layout is organised around an exposed structural grid at ceiling level. A single flitch beam - consisting of a metal plate sandwiched between two timber sections - spans the entire length of the house while shorter beams span perpendicular at regular centres, setting out positions of walls, windows, built in joinery and furniture below. Secretly fixed, ash lined plywood panels fill the spaces between.

An existing garage was incorporated in the overall plan, allowing space for the kitchen and W.C. to be centrally located and flanked either side by the dining area to the front and sitting area overlooking the main garden to the rear.  A sliding partition between the front entrance and dining area enables the circulation leading up to the first floor accommodation to be separated off from the ground floor living spaces - a common building regulations requirement. The whole ground floor layout is one continuous, free-flowing space with individual areas defined by the placement of furniture and external openings which offer a unique view to the outside. 

Large openings have been created in the rear elevation to provide generous access and views out to the garden, while a new side window, complete with built in window seat, has been strategically placed to introduce natural light into the centre of the plan. Rear and side facing windows and doors are constructed in ash to match the ceiling, kitchen and built in storage while white painted walls and an exposed concrete floor make up a complimentary pallet of finished materials.

In addition to the ground floorworks, a large master bedroom and en-suite bathroom, complete with freestanding bath, has been created at first floor level.

Externally, a new rear terrace, constructed entirely in brickwork to match the existing house, acts as a transition space between house and main garden and provides a place for outdoor dining. A fern filled built-in planter at the end of the terrace creates a foreground of architectural planting when viewed from the living area.

The house is situated at the end of a terrace of 1970s houses which were built on the site of a former orchard. The house had a layout which is typical to mid-century townhouses with the living spaces located on the first floor, with no direct link to the garden and 3 small bedrooms on the ground and second floors.

The clients, a growing young family, approached Nimtim Architects with a brief to transform their home providing a new family space on the ground floor with access and views to the garden and a large main bedroom suite on the first floor.

Initially, there was a lack of support for changes from the local authority, so Nimtim came up with a solution that could be achieved through permitted development. They proposed an extension to the rear and side of the ground floor to provide adequate space for the living, dining and kitchen areas, and a master bedroom suite on the first floor with it's own en-suite bathroom.

The exterior of the extensions were required to be built with the same materials and window types as the existing house. Nimtim saw this as an opportunity rather than a restriction and laid the yellow bricks (to match the existing house) at ground and ceiling height on edge to differentiate the new part of the building from the existing and the openings on the ground level referenced the existing house but were placed with a deliberate rhythm on the rear elevation to frame views out to the garden. On first floor the new bedroom is given a wide generous window to bring the garden view and canopy into the space.

The client wanted the new family space to be open, flexible and robust. Nimtim proposed open timber partitions which loosely define the space into different areas. These could be filled in to create more solid separation, increasing the privacy, or taken down to create a more open space. The timber framework and ply cladding form semi-open screens which provide a visually and acoustically warm environment. They have apertures cut into them for views through and in some cases the framework is used as shelves for the family's special items.

There are exposed timber beams in the new extension ceilings to the rear and side. These beams sail under the new rooflight over the dining area, and they add to the definition of the different areas. They create a cosiness in the new living area where the timber seems to wrap around the space.

The centrepiece of the kitchen is an island which is clad with white tiles, these are curved at the edges of the worktop and continue to form the kitchen sink. This adds to the robustness of the design.

Contrasting with the rectilinear grid of the timber structure, the floor is laid with grey and blue linoleum in a triangular pattern which will eventually inform the landscaping in the garden, the house is on a triangular plot with a large but awkwardly shaped garden, the proposal will address these geometries and resolve them.

The articulation of spaces has come into it's own during lockdown allowing different activities to occur throughout the house at the same time.

This project by Bradley Van Der Straeten Architects (BVDS) is called Two and a half storey house because the new roof extension sits no higher than the existing roofline of the building and is hidden from the street elevation.

The house is located on a housing estate in Stoke Newington, London and is part of a terrace of houses. It had 2 bedrooms and the clients, a family with their second child on the way, needed an extra bedroom so BVDS were appointed to try to come up with a solution. Prior to this the client had made two planning applications to add roof extensions both of which had been refused. BVDS managed to circumnavigate the height restrictions by using an interlocking section and half levels to create a half storey in the loft space with a mezzanine sleeping area, this was done under Permitted Development rights and without the need for planning.

The height of the new roof extension was set to match the highest point of the existing roof and then the volume within this was cleverly manipulated to tease out an extra half storey by lowering the ceiling on the first floor over areas that didn't need to be full height such as storage space and wardrobes, this gave adequate floor area to the new floor above for a dressing area at the end of the raised platform bed which is positioned over the higher part of the ceiling on the first floor.

The result is a successful light, bright and fun bedroom with plenty of integrated storage. Roof lights are strategically placed to create a sense of height as well as to bring light in, there is one over the main staircase which illuminates this plywood lined space and integrates all the floors together. The use of simple materials accentuate the sense of space, plywood and white painted walls allow the light to bounce around whilst also giving the space a warmth through the natural textures and grain of the wood.

To maximise floor to ceiling heights, the construction is predominately framed in steel and the steels used are tall and narrow so the they can be hidden in the thickness of the walls this means that they do not influence the depth of the floor construction. The steels are positioned to limit the spans of the timbers to keep them as slim as possible and the timbers are exposed to further increase the sense of space, they are supported on concealed joist hangers for a clean look. The thickness of the roof is kept to a minimum by using ultra thin vacuum insulation panels.

This project is an excellent example of how employing a good architect can help overcome a seemingly impossible situation with a clever, elegant solution.

Two and a half storey house has also won the Compact Design of the Year prize from the 'Don't Move Improve' Awards which are organised by New London Architecture.

The client was moving from a Central London apartment to a 1960’s house in suburban Croydon and wanted to recreate the open-ness and lightness that he enjoyed in his modern apartment. He wanted an open-plan space that would work for both entertaining and comfortable everyday living when he was home alone.

Instead of adding an extension, nimtim proposed to reorganise the ground floor by using the internal garage at the front of the house as a snug and then moving the kitchen into a central location so that it would allow the client to welcome new visitors while remaining connected to those in the living and dining spaces. The angled kitchen is orientated to draw people into the space and frame views of the garden. This creates a dynamic play between the new spaces.

Key to the concept was making the existing ground floor interior feel like an extension of the garden. Materials were carefully considered, particularly in terms of flooring, allowing each space to be intimate within an open plan layout. The floor materials transition through the space along angled thresholds, gradually becoming more robust and external. Rich oak parquet floor with timber blocks line the snug. This gives way to warm earthy terracotta square tiles and finally a harder but still warm toned red brick paver laid out in a basket weave. The brick pavers continue into the rear garden forming an external angled terrace that merges the interior and exterior spaces.

A palette of muted green joinery forms the kitchen, integrated storage, bench seating and an open staircase within the ground floor. The result is an open but articulated space full of light and colour.

The reimagining of a ground floor extension to a Victorian terraced house, the humble London Stock brick is celebrated and it's stackable quality is used to create a sculptural structure.

Using bricks reclaimed from the demolition of the rear of the house, the new addition works within a rights of light diagram to create a staggered, extruded form that appears to 'melt' away from the existing house.

Unlike most side return extensions there is no rooflight but instead a lightwell between the existing back wall of the house and the new extension which brings light into the centre of the plan. The stepped brickwork continues on the roof of the side return and is exposed on the inside to provide texture and contrast to the interior space and it's simple understated material palette. On the inside face of the lightwell the stepped roof of the side return drops down and becomes a wall of faceted glass.

The layout of the ground floor has been flipped, with the kitchen placed at the front of the house within the existing living room with it's bay window and original Victorian features, the palette consists of dark colours and material tones to reflect the existing heritage of the house. The dining room is adjacent to this in the centre of the plan and is delineated by a change in floor surface with a warm narrow timber floor which contrasts with the smooth concrete of the kitchen and rough grain concrete of the new rear addition. The lightwell provides natural light and breathing space to the dining area as well as a focal point through the drama of the faceted glass wall and views of the rear extension with it's stepped, rhythmic brick ceiling.

The Architect worked closely with the Structural Engineers to create a column free-space in the new extension, using laser-cut, double-direction stepped beams to support the first floor. The structure of the addition was integrated into the design from the start – working hand-in-hand to create the appearance of a first floor that is sunken into the extension.

In this way they have created a modern, innovative addition that respects the existing house while at the same time using modern building methods which elevate the ubiquitous brick.

Situated on the River Ouse in York, North Yorkshire, and inspired by the utilitarian character of the backyards and service lanes, this rear extension to a Victorian terrace house is formed of two structural vaults built in local York brick. 

One arch contains an extended kitchen while the other houses a dining/ study space.Separate bike and bin stores (both planning conditions) are integrated a long the back wall of the extension and are accessed via a rear service lane.

The extension completely fills the backyard but leaves the existing side return free to form an internal courtyard. Glazed on all sides, the courtyard provides generous amounts of natural light, views and access to the kitchen, dining area and existing rear reception room. 

Clerestory glazing on the rear elevation introduces natural light from the service lane. The fully glazed dining area elevation opposite, frames a view of the courtyard. 

Internal and external materials are robust and functional throughout. The extension walls and roof are solid brickwork left exposed on the inside. Cupboard doors are engineered three-ply solid oak, while countertops are cast in-situ concrete supported on concrete arches. Typically used as a sub-floor, a power floated cement screed forms the the internal floor finish. New windows and doors are framed in chunky solid oak sections.

The first-floor bathroom fit out follows the utilitarian theme. All sanitaryware was sourced from budget suppliers and is simple and white. Inexpensive chrome brassware, stripped of its chrome finish to expose the brass and non-brass bases, are left to tarnish over time. The cross-head taps are repurposed radiator valve heads. 

Escutcheons and splashbacks are laser-cut from sheet brass. The loft stair and bedroom wardrobes are designed to form one interior element that interlocks through the central spine wall of the existing house, CNC milled from birch plywood, it was assembled as a kit of parts on site to save on time and costs.

House Lessans was named as the UK's best house of 2019 by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Located on an old farmstead in County Down, the house was designed for a semi-retired couple and their grown up children who visit and stay.

Taking inspiration from the local agricultural vernacular, the house is conceived as two simple volumes arranged next to an existing barn to create a sense of enclosure.

One volume contains three bedrooms, the other, a kitchen-dining area and a double-height living room. The entrance is positioned between.

Slight changes in floor level further separate the functions.

Externally, white-rendered walls and standing seam zinc roofs meet along a datum line set out on the heads of the external openings. The datum is continued on the inside and divides grey painted concrete block walls at lower level and white-painted surfaces above to reflect daylight. 

Large format expanses of glass frame views of the immediate landscape and rolling hills beyond.

Simple details and construction methods were deployed throughout to meet the client’s tight budget. The result is a home built for just £1,425 per square metre (£335,000 in total) which is comparable to social housing costs.

An Internal reconfiguration of a main door tenement flat in a conservation area.

The clients owned a ground floor flat (part of a subdivided Georgian villa in Pollokshields) which had its kitchen located in a single storey projection into the garden to the rear of the property. It had nowhere to sit, felt disconnected from the rest of the flat, and was surprisingly dark. The dining room which was a well proportioned space with a classic high ceiling and ornate cornicing – was little more than a thoroughfare to the kitchen, and the convoluted route to the hall via the lobby exacerbated this further.

Loader Monteith proposed that the kitchen was pulled toward the centre of the property into the former dining room, and a direct (glazed) connection made to the hall, so that the kitchen became the centre of the home around which family life revolved. This change to access meant that a larder could be formed in the old entrance lobby.

The ceiling within the existing kitchen was removed to expose the roof ties, and a new roof light introduced. Window sills were dropped and a new frameless set of windows were formed to improve connection to the garden outside and to make a bright ‘day’ room. Adjacent to the back door a utility ‘box’ was proposed to house washing machines, boiler, coats, boots and all the clutter associated with family life. This created an open but natural divide between the day room and the kitchen.

The Clients had strong ideas about what they wanted to achieve and were keen to use warm tactile materials but also had a limited budget. Loader Monteith proposed the use of modest materials which also provide texture such as lacquered painted MDF and softwood, a concrete kitchen worktop, reclaimed beech flooring, and birch veneered ply.

Set within a conservation area and situated between two Edwardian houses, Fijal House replaces a garage on land intended as an additional plot when the street was originally laid out. 

The architectural expression of the house draws inspiration from its Edwardian context and the world famous Ely Cathedral located nearby. 

The decorative frontage and simple side and rear elevations are characteristic of the neighbouring Edwardian houses while the saw-tooth brick detailing on the front elevation and steeply pitched gable roof echo the stone entrance columns and nave at Ely cathedral, respectively.

The house is entered through a recessed entrance, lined with coloured decorative tiles and covered by a precast concrete lintel.

At ground floor level, a utility room and W.C. separates a snug at the front and kitchen-dining-living space at the rear. Pocket sliding doors enable the space to be opened up for large parties or closed into individual rooms when in daily family use. 

Three bedrooms, one with an en-suite, and a family bathroom occupy the upper floor. The steeply pitched exposed timber rafters are intended to give the modestly proportioned bedrooms a sense of scale and warmth.

South orientated roof lights introduce sunlight into the dining area and stairs below. Picture windows frame views to the front while large format sliding doors provide generous views and access to the rear garden. 

Mole Architects are renowned for their environmental credentials. The house is constructed from a prefabricated timber frame to reduce its embodied energy while a concrete screed ground floor and dense concrete blockwork internal walls provide thermal mass. 

A simple palette of materials make up the interior. Dark stone floor tiles, pale ash flooring and wall panels zone the different open plan ground floor spaces. Up stair rooms are carpeted and walls are painted white. 

Located in Coldtown in a beautiful but exposed Northumberland setting - Shawm House(old Northumbrian to ‘warm oneself’) is a fine example of new build residential design, innovation and construction.

The project takes a complex site, challenging brief and budget constraints to produce an elegant, crisp and stimulating building.  Its success is further heightened by the fact that it was built by the client with no previous building experience, for his retired parents. 

Deemed in open countryside by the local planning authority and in the curtilage of a listed building it was granted planning permission due to an ‘exceptionally high quality of design’. The house consists of a timber frame new build which links to a small existing stone stable block.  These elements along with the new timber framed outbuilding are ‘anchored’ to the existing stone wall which acts as a shield to the prevailing winds and an axis between the new builds. 

The design is contextually driven with the barn like form, locally sourced materials and framed views. One is aware of the countryside all around whilst successfully addressing overlooking issues of the clients existing farmhouse. The layout takes precedent from the historic Bastles of the area with the living space on the first floor, though this time it is for spatial quality and views rather than defence.  The house is wrapped in a thick larch ‘blanket’ that seamlessly envelopes the roof and walls, below which is a highly insulated and airtight building. 

Living and working on site the client manufactured the entire supersized timber frame in the old hay shed with a specially designed jig.  Local materials have been used throughout the project. The larch cladding was specifically sourced from the Borders and trees felled from the site itself and have been used throughout the house in the bespoke built-in-furniture, kitchen, tables and stairs.  The stone to the gable end of the house and garage was sourced from Northumberland.   

Using our knowledge in Passivhaus design we have implemented the approach whilst not compromising on the design aesthetic.  Super insulation to both the new and existing elements, triple glazing throughout, and a highly airtight construction which surpass Passivhaus standards coupled with the use of integrated renewable technologies such as PVs and a biomass boiler provide heating and hot water during the summer and winter respectively all reduce heating costs to a minimum.  Rainwater harvesting, attention to accessible design and low maintenance inside and out all contribute to the holistic and sustainable scheme for the ageing owners. 

Great care was taken in the detailing of the all the junctions to avoid thermal bridging; the whole timber frame sits on foam glass blocks, the structure above the huge frameless triple glazed corner glass window is entirely cantilevered in timber.  

Shawm House shows that a house with a conservative budget can be high quality in design and architectural rigour.  Its innovation and refinement is further enhanced by the truly self-build nature of the project.  

The design embraces it surrounds, the clever use of natural light, spatial contrast, materiality and sustainability to produce a delightful house that celebrate sits context and the people who have built it and live in it.

Located on an urban infill site close to the River Quaggy in south-east London, the house was built by one of 31/44’s directors – his second self-build within the same street. The form and arrangement of the house is derived from a response to the immediate context and site conditions.

At street level the house has a set back entrance door, planting, steps and gates to the two front courtyards to echo the ad-hoc assembly of fences, walls and mews and garage buildings that line this side of the street, the first floor in contrast is formed of a flush brickwork panel and window sitting upon a concrete lintel that holds all these element together. This gives the house a significant visual mass, a sense of permanence more in-keeping with the Victorian terrace that faces the house on the other side of the street.

The plan is orientated around three courtyards and large openings allow glimpses of greenery to filter through the whole ground floor, as well as flooding the interior with natural light. The southern section of the plan, containing the main living spaces, sits between the two principal courtyards.

Internally, a series of birch-faced joinery cabinets divide space, create framed views and form containers for the client’s possessions.

The first floor is accessed via a curved timber staircase with a large picture window. These timber elements define the interior of the house.

To the rear, the client’s studio catches the southern light. The guest suite is also located to the rear with a view into the third, quiet, external courtyard space.

Located in a North London conservation area and landlocked behind Victorian terrace housing, Garden House aims to maximise the sense of space and natural light available within the confines of its small, north-facing site.

Replacing an existing single-storey workshop built in the mid 1990s, the project comprises of a simple rectilinear plan at ground level and a three-sided conical roof form above.

The angled form of the roof design seeks to maximise the internal footprint while protecting the outlook and amenity of neighbouring properties.

The building is entered through an enclosed courtyard with a large skylight above lined with mirror-polished stainless steel to reflect light and views. A set of glazed sliding doors provides access to the only bedroom while a second set of doors lead through to an open plan living-dining-kitchen space lit by a series of small roof lights installed in one of the sloping roof sections. A utility space and bathroom positioned in the darker corner of the plan complete the ground floor plan.

An oak-lined studio space is located on the upper floor which is is also used as a fitting room and a gallery space for private exhibitions of the owners’ work. A large format roof light illuminates the space from above.

Bespoke white steel shelves providing storage and display space continue into a steel staircase set away from the wall to allow natural light to pass behind it.

Developed collaboratively with Whitaker Malem, the roof is formed as a series of lapped planting trays, containing over 800 different species. The stepped profile of the trays is intended to facilitate access for maintenance. 

The roof was designed, tested and constructed from first principles and the project intends  to provide a model of how to utilise inner city, brown-field sites.

Next door neighbours and friends were seeking to down size from larger Victorian terrace houses while remaining within their community. The brief revolved around building two new houses at the bottom of their very long back gardens with a shared aim of open-plan, ecologically sustainable, low-cost living.  

Previously occupied by brick garages which defined an overall plot width of 14 metres, the architect’s main concern was how to create light-filled accommodation on a steep, narrow site with limited access and views.  
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The houses were constructed by the same team through a shared building contract to enable best value to both owners. New retaining walls carve out the full width of the site while glazed openings are limited to the front and rear elevations only.  

Accommodation is arranged over two floors. Car parking (a planning requirement) and ancillary spaces occupy much of the subterranean lower level while a shared lightwell provides natural light to a bedroom and flexible workspace at the rear. On the upper level extensive glazing and strategically placed roof lights maximise light and views out to the surrounding woods.  

Central to design of both houses is a cantilevered staircase– one finished in concrete, the other in timber. The result of a close collaboration between architect, engineer, contractor and client and specialist expertise of steel fabricator Clifford Chapman & Co and concrete artist and sculptor, Russ Coleman.  

A limited palette of robust, utilitarian materials is used throughout, referencing the site’s industrial past. Oversized sliding and pivot doors on exposed steel rails provide security and easy access. Metal framed windows and boarded doors are set in deep masonry reveals of flush pointed red brick while the same brickwork extends into key interior spaces. Internal floors are industrial power floated screed. 

Thermal efficiency is delivered by an air-tight external envelope consisting of simple loadbearing masonry, in-situ concrete, engineered timber and double glazed thermally broken windows. Heating is provided by ground sourced heat pumps which supply pipework within the exposed screed floors. Natural ventilation is supplemented by a mechanical ventilation heat recovery system which also acts as a heat recovery system.  

The extensively planted green roofs are designed to hold rainwater to prevent excessive run-off into the local drainage system. Biodiversity is supported through the planting of native tree species in the rear gardens and indigenous wildflowers on the green roofs.  

A complete refurbishment of a Victorian terrace house, including a ground floor side return extension and a loft extension.

The project involved stripping out the structure from the rear and adding a glazed side extension providing an open plan, kitchen and dining space which flows from the central living area and into the garden, complete with window seat and a vast pivot door.

The internal layout of the ground floor was completely reorganised with the primary living areas focused towards the back of the house with views to the garden and ancillary spaces such as an office and cloakroom located at the front of the house.

Light and views are pulled through the whole of the ground floor from front to back by the use of glazed crittall doors and screens which separate the office and entrance hall at the front of the house from the large open plan living, dining and kitchen area.

The palette of materials is kept simple using monotone black and white which is given warmth from an oak herringbone floor in the original part of the house and then in the new rear side extension the use of a contrasting granite tile laid in a chevron pattern to echo the timber floor, adds interest with it's contrast in colour.

The kitchen continues the monotone theme with black painted cabinets which allow the grain of the wood to show through adding warmth and a white cararra marble worktop, splashback and shelves. Pops of colour are added through furniture and soft furnishings.

Externally, a black stained timber outbuilding houses a shower, living space and sauna at the end of a newly landscaped garden.

The upper storeys of the house have also been fully refurbished, a dramatic frameless skylight sits over the refurbished stairs and provides a double height space up to the new, zinc clad mansard extension. The palette of materials is continued in the loft space with black painted wardrobe doors and a white marble tiled en-suite shower room with black brassware.

Minimally framed, large format glazing provides extensive views from the loft bedroom and the en-suite bathroom also benefits from a frameless skylight over the shower.

The new layout and extensions bring space and light to the house and create a contemporary, bright and open structure from the previously dark and cluttered interior.

Located in a 1950s Warner building on the Warner Estate which was built over the late 19th and early 20th century in several parts of Waltham Forest. This first floor flat was occupied by a family who needed extra space to grow into and the proposal allows for a master bedroom with ensuite shower in the roof space which has a terrace with views over Lloyd Park, home of the William Morris Gallery.

The client was keen for the new roof extension to be unique and not the generic 'loft company conversion' but one which worked with its context and would respect the period and character of the original building.

The new extension is flooded with light by the addition of full height sliding glass doors to the master bedroom as well as rooflights in the existing pitched part of the roof. The rest of the flat has natural light brought into it by a rooflight over the new staircase which is funnelled down a void placed to the side of the stairs, as well as full height slot window placed at the top landing which also allows views out over the park.

The flat is given a feeling of spaciousness through the use of clean lines and simple furnishings and a palette of light coloured materials such as white painted plaster walls and white tinted timber flooring. This works well with the modernist mid century aesthetic of the rest of the flat and it's 1950s origins.

The new internal staircase to the extension is placed over the existing one with the balustrade modified so that can be extended to the next floor giving a sense of continuity to the stairwell.

Externally, Corten weathering steel was used to clad the new extension, this was chosen by the Architects for its ability to patinate and weather over time allowing it to blend in with the existing red concrete roof tiles of the main roof and the red facing brickwork. The faceted cladding is installed with invisible fixings and has a chamfered overhang and is inset to provide space for the covered terrace.

This project involves the rebuild of an existing loft extension to a first floor flat in a Victorian terrace house in Walthamstow, London. The constraints of the site were embraced by the new design and what were once hard to utilise spaces have been incorporated into the new loft layout.

The exterior full width roof dormer which is clad with charred larch, allows extra head room to be added to the loft. This dark finish contrasts with the original building and it's surroundings but also respects them by providing a complementary backdrop.

Internally, the rooms are lined with birch plywood which gives a warmth and calmness to the spaces. Further interest in the spaces come from the faceted wall and ceiling planes which work with the existing geometry of the the original loft space. The plywood is also used to form built-in furniture including storage, desks and a window seat. The end grain can be seen on the staircase banister, architraves, door and window frames.

The charred larch external cladding is returned into the reveals of the windows and can be seen internally, this adds contrast and is further complimented by the black frames of the windows and the black light fittings, electrical face plates and door handles.

Set in a conservation area in Hackney, London, this proposal for a new single-storey rear and side extension to a Victorian terrace house aims to create a larger kitchen and living space for the clients as well as improving the connection between the ground floor spaces.

This project has a slightly unconventional approach to the layout of the ground floor, with the kitchen, usually at the back of the house contained within the closet wing, positioned in the front room and linked to the centrally located dining area. This leaves the new extension to provide a cosy reading area and large living area to the the rear of the house which has a direct relationship with the garden.

The design respects the roof line of the original closet wing and also preserves the notion of the closet wing with the rear extension not running full width but set back at the side return.

The materials used are also unusual, pink coloured concrete is used to construct the rear extension and is left exposed internally, its imperfections and visible aggregate give texture and character to the space, providing a unique backdrop to the client's eclectic furnishings.

The floorboards are Douglas fir, as is the joinery around the living area which adds further texture to the palette of materials.

In the dining area, an intricately decorated wood-burning stove has been installed in the existing fireplace and a pale pink Formica faced plywood kitchen with terrazzo worktop complement the bare plaster walls of the kitchen and patina of the existing stripped pine window surrounds.

London stock bricks which match the existing house are used for the side return extension and are also exposed internally adding another texture to the interior.
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The new living spaces are lit with daylight from the glazed doors and glazed roof above the side return, as well as through a roof light above the winter garden which provides ambience to the sunken seating area located adjacent to it. This winter garden also acts as a buffer between the garden and the living area and merges the inside and outside space, on warm days the sliding doors to the winter garden can be opened up to the main garden and the boundaries are blurred further.

Rich and eclectic interiors contrast with the contemporary detailing of the extension. The living area is designed around a comfy, mid-century style sunken seating area, which provides a space for relaxation and conversation.

This project involved the complete refurbishment and re-configuring of a 1920's semi-detached cottage in Cambridge.

Due to the nature of the site and the fact that the house was set back from it's neighbours, Sam Tisdall Architects were able to add an extension to the front of the house as well as to the back and loft. This transformed the cottage and has made it a spacious house which is full of light and allows for it to accommodate modern living, the extension at the front providing the client with a study.

The design is asymmetrical with its roof extending up to meet the roof of the house, topped with a rooflight and with a corner glazed window facing the garden.

The front door was re-positioned alongside the extension, with a simple metal canopy fixed above. Internally a much larger entrance hall was formed by combining the narrow hall and the old study. This completely alters the sense of scale of the house and provides the setting for a new stair to replace the narrow and steeply winding original. This is made from solid Douglas fir boards with the end grain exposed, and a blackened mild steel handrail. It required careful detailing to hide fixings and close co-ordination between joiner and metal worker, with sections of handrail slotted into place and welded together on site.

The stair extends up to the loft with the landing bridging across the stair void linking a bedroom on one side with a shower room on the other.

To the rear of the house a poorly built extension was reconfigured and extended up to the first floor with kitchen and dining space on the ground and a bathroom and an ensuite above. This is also clad in cedar but with flat roofs and carefully placed rooflights and windows.

Throughout the house there is a calm atmosphere, with lye and white oiled Douglas fir floors and light tones chosen for the walls. Tongue and groove panelling was used in the study, bathrooms and to the side of the staircase. Everywhere there is a focus on daylight with generous rooflights and windows.

Externally, the new elements are clad with vertical cedar boards which particularly emphasise the sculptural form of the extension to the front of the house. There are no visible flashings and the walls and roof appear as one homogeneous material which culminates at a rooflight at the top where it meets the original building. This treatment while in contrast respects the original house and its surroundings.

The design for this Victorian house in Brockley, London, is a collaboration between SAM Architects and Lunar Architects with the interior design by the client.

The proposal was to add a side and rear extension to the house in order to create a large open plan kitchen dining area which would act as a connecting space between the formal living of the existing house and the garden.

The space is flooded with light by the large pitched rooflight which runs almost the full length of the new side return as well as a smaller rooflight in the roof of the rear extension and the large full height glazed crittall doors on the rear wall.

Internally the materials are kept simple with white painted walls and a pale timber parquet floor. Contrast is added with the dark blue painted joinery of the kitchen.

The parquet flooring continues out into the garden, with timber decking laid in a herringbone pattern. This provides the extension with a transitional space for relaxing. As you move further into the garden the hard landscaping breaks down and paving is interspersed with gravel and large stones with richly planted areas of bushes and ferns, the garden design was by GRDN Landscape and Design.

Externally, the height of the extension is maximised by using a pitched roof which respects the neighbouring properties and local architecture but also allows for extra volume over the centre of the dining space.

The extension is clad with black charred larch cladding by Shou-Sugi-Ban which provides a modern but complimentary contrast with its Victorian context and it also acts as an unobtrusive backdrop to the greenery of the garden.

Rees Architects designed the extension and internal alterations to this Victorian terrace house in Walthamstow, London - including planning, building regulations, interior design and kitchen design for the build.  

For the external architectural design, the existing wrap around extension/conservatory was removed and replaced with a complete side and rear extension.

The extension’s timber cladding was painted with a black stain and UV protection to allow for the natural tones and grain of the timber to come through, but provided a hard wearing matte finish.

The key to a clean minimal design is keeping all structural elements hidden, so special attention was given to hiding window frames as well as rainwater pipes and guttering within the structure. 

The internal alterations and redesign make better use of the space and improve flow. The ground floor layout was re-configured so that upon entry, there is a direct view of the garden from the entrance hall. This line of vision is also at play from the living room where the garden framed by the picture window seat is in view.

The interconnection between the front and rear without being completely open makes for a happy medium; there are small intimate spaces, but other activity across the ground floor is never cut off. This innate sense of flow was foundational for the rest of the design.  

This 1860s Victorian terrace lies within an East London Conservation Area. As well as full refurbishment of the house the proposal adds a new rear and side extension, reconfiguring the ground floor layout and making it more usable for modern life.

Often, with the addition of a side return extension is the issue of how to bring natural daylight into the deep floor plan that has been created, Feilden Fowles overcame this by adding a north facing rooflight which draws diffuse light down into the depth of the plan between expressed timber roof joists.

An important feature of the Architect's design can be seen throughout the house in their treatment of the existing building. All previous additions to the house have been carefully stripped back to reveal the original fabric of the Victorian architecture and room proportions have been retained.

A muted palette of materials is used. Concrete flooring in the kitchen sits against pale oiled timber flooring and exposed timber joists, white painted walls against bare pink plaster with the odd contrast of colour and texture brought in by a dark grey painted brick wall in the kitchen and dark grey painted sash windows in the original part of the building. Splashes of colour are left to the Clients' belongings such as paintings, armchairs and plants.

Externally, the extension has an unassuming presence with full height, full width sliding glazed doors with grey green painted frames which blend in with the tones of the planting. This is further complimented by the grey of the lead cladding above.

Despite the addition of a contemporary extension, the project sits comfortably in its surroundings, harmonising with the original house.

Hard landscaping for outside dining is located at the back of the garden for a sunny aspect while informal planting comes right up to the threshold of the new extension, bringing the garden into the house and blurring the boundaries between inside and out.

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.

Gruff Architects were approached to refurbish this Victorian semi in the Brockley Conservation Area, when the owners returned home after spending a period of time in Sydney.

They were keen to renovate and refurbish their home to incorporate the outside lifestyle and interaction with outside space they had experienced whilst abroad. They also wanted to incorporate aspects of their mixed heritage into the design, influences of Malaysia, Britain and Australia.

In order to meet this brief, the design focuses on a centrally planted courtyard between the original house and new extension. The courtyard links all the rear spaces together by bringing natural light and greenery into the heart of the building. Working with Michael Coley Garden Design, the planting features neutral, evergreen and hardy plants for longevity as well as a large tree fern to add focus.

The design includes a side and rear extension providing the house with a second living area at the rear which interacts directly with the garden and an open plan kitchen and dining area.

All these spaces have a view of both the internal courtyard and the rear garden and gain light from the courtyard and the long frameless rooflight running the length of the new side extension. This rooflight is elegantly detailed, framed with a timber reveal and sitting on top of the vaulted ceiling of the dining and living area which diffuses the light around the space.

Half of the rear wall is set back where the kitchen is located and at the junction of this inset there is a section of corner glazing which cuts into the centre of the building drawing in direct sunlight and more visible planting from the purpose built window box.

The existing secondary reception room becomes a study space which looks out on to the internal courtyard and provides a visual relationship between both the existing and new architecture as well as the internal and external environments all year round, without the need to open doors or windows.

In warm weather,  the timber glazing allows for the space to be opened up to the planted areas and encourages cross-ventilation to naturally cool the home.

A combination of natural timbers, exposed grey brickwork and pockets of glazing appear both inside and out, blurring the thresholds and creating a calming environment. New openings combined with glazed partitions, create a light and inviting environment across the whole house.

The main focus of this project was the Client's requirement for a space in which to entertain their extended families.

In addition to refurbishing most of the four storey house, Mustard Architects proposed extensions at ground floor to the rear and to the side to open up the previously cramped, cold and isolated kitchen and dining room to draw light into the plan and create one large open plan space. They also proposed a rear terrace which is used as a continuation of this space as an 'inside/outside' area, a transition between the inside and the garden beyond.

Internally, there is a nod to the existing building with the retention of the original brick arch over the family room window as a trace of the old structure. A new concrete step marks the threshold between the old and the new, neatly framing the view down to the dining table and up to the sky above.

From here, staggered oak steps descend to create informal library seating with built in book shelving to one side. The steps are also used as an impromptu stage for speeches at celebrations.

Running from these steps almost the full length of the extension, is a large rooflight which floods the kitchen and dining space with light, it also ensures that daylight is drawn into the depth of the plan. This strip of light then leads the eye out to the external living and dining areas.

Mustard have used a monochromatic palette of materials with touches of oak throughout to link the spaces and have added interest by using varying textures. The oak flooring of the existing house becomes a warm toned concrete floor in the new kitchen and dining area which then continues into the outside space, linking them into one large entertaining space.

Further texture is added through the use of articulated bricks which clad the rear wall of the house and enclose the terrace area, these together with the oak solar shading create strong shadows which change with the movement of the sun.

Oliver Leech's refurbishment of this two-storey house was born out of the Client's wish to have an open-plan cooking and eating space that connected with the garden.

The existing house lacked natural light and had a long, thin cramped kitchen. One of the main focuses of the proposal was to bring in lots of natural light and to extend and reconfigure the ground floor to create a more user friendly space.

The house was completely gutted and some of the original walls removed. The new kitchen and dining area to the house were created by adding new extensions to the side and rear of the house.

The new side return adds width to the previously narrow kitchen and has pitched rooflights which bring an abundance of light into the dining space beneath it.

The rear extension pushes out a little further into the garden to allow for a built-in bench seat which sits under a large square picture window looking out over the garden. This flexible seating met the client’s request to be able to sit and read in the evening sun, with the doors open or closed.

In order to bring even more light into the space, the height of the extension is maximised and a large frameless rooflight is positioned in the ceiling of the new extension at the junction where it meets the existing structure. The ceiling gently curves up towards the rooflight, drawing diffuse light deep into the plan and the kitchen below it.

The Architect chose materials to complement and respect the existing Victorian house. A muted palette of natural materials with soft tones which work together to provide a consistent and coherent language throughout, creating a calm, cosy atmosphere. White oiled Douglas fir exposed rafters and joinery, sit alongside pale buff bricks which are used internally as well as externally. The buff bricks provide a subtle contrast to the existing London stock bricks.

Elsewhere, the character and the proportions of the original house are preserved, the previously dark and narrow hallway acquires borrowed light from other spaces by exposing the framework structure of the separating wall.

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.

A single-storey side infill extension and reconfiguration of a Victorian terrace house creating a series of open plan, light filled spaces conducive for modern family living. 
 
Much of the existing building has been retained to preserve its character and keep costs down. New openings between rooms respect the proportions and detailing of the original spaces while allowing functions to flow from one to the other. 
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In the new extension, a large format ash-framed door and window offer generous access and views out to the rear garden and a strip rooflight running the full length of the side return provides high levels of daylight into the dining area and inner room below. A variety of light fittings articulate activity zones within the open plan space and provide task lighting. 
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The kitchen is designed to display the owner’s extensive cookware collection and incorporates a series of birch plywood boxes above counter level. A built-in concrete seat at the end of the kitchen run provides a place for social interaction and contemplation.
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The extension is finished in a contemporary palette of materials of – stainless steel, painted MDF, birch plywood and cast in-situ concrete – while the original Victorian rooms have been faithfully refurbished. High levels of insulation and triple glazing improve the home’s thermal performance.