Case study: Sustainable extension to a Victorian flat in London

The addition of a kitchen-diner turned this Victorian flat in London into a airy, modern living space.

With a poorly designed and unattractive conservatory stuck on the rear of their home, the owners of this Victorian flat were keen to swap the dated structure for a comfortable, more contemporary alternative that would complement their period property. As well as blocking most of the natural light from reaching their rear reception room, the construction was cold in winter and overbearingly hot in summer, which meant the couple rarely spent any time in it.

‘Being in a conservation area meant that any new structure had to follow the basic size and footprint of the old one,’ explains architect Theofanis Anastasiadis, of Scenario Architecture (020 7686 3445; scenarioarchitecture.com). The owners had briefed him to create a design that would meet their desire for a light-filled, open-plan look that would improve the layout and functionality of their home, while respecting its architecture and distinctive features.

Before Image

 

‘To reassure the planners and conservation officer that the new addition wouldn’t have an impact on the neighbouring properties, we created 3D models of the extension – as we do for all our projects – so they could gain a better understanding of our ideas.’

The pitched roof of the new extension matches the original height of the old conservatory, creating an airy, bright space that’s lit from above by several large roof lights, which also improves the levels of natural illumination reaching the rear room of the house. The back wall of the building has been left intact, with two of the original window openings repurposed as internal Juliet balconies to ensure a subtle connection with the new area, while still maintaining the proportions of the adjoining living room. A new staircase bridges the height gap between the two zones, with a curved balustrade sweeping down to form the built-in bench seating at the dining end.