A Transformation in Tooting: Explore this stunning Georgian Terrace
The project involves the transformation of an end-of-terrace property that has not been updated in over 30 years.
New London architecture practice, Studio Colab has extended and renovated a Georgian home in Merton, South London, adding a green zinc canopy and projecting oriel window to improve the natural light within the property, alongside improving the flow between the interior spaces.
The Tooting House project involves the transformation of an end-of-terrace property that has not been updated in over 30 years.
Studio Colab were tasked with improving the layout and visual connection to the rear garden, while respecting the home’s existing fabric.
Photo: Tim Crocker
What was the inspiration behind the Tooting House project?
“The project was about transforming the home’s relationship with its garden and creating more flexible living spaces,” explained Studio Colab founder Fabian Danker.
Fabian continues: “It was born from a dialogue about connection specifically, how to bridge the gap between a traditional floor plan and a modern, social lifestyle.
“Previously, the ground floor was divided into small, poorly connected rooms, with a narrow kitchen and limited access to daylight at the rear.
“While the front of the house benefited from large north facing sash windows, the back although south facing was dark and confined.
“The original layout isolated the kitchen and dining areas, creating a physical and social barrier. Our vision was to dissolve these boundaries.
“We focused on creating a ‘fluid ground floor’ that allows the kitchen to act as a social anchor while maintaining a seamless transition to the garden.
“It wasn’t just about adding light; it was about choreographing the way the clients move through and experience their home.”
Photo: Tim Crocker
Were there any setbacks?
As with all projects, the Tooting House extension has it’s setbacks. In this instance though, it was to do with budget constraints rather than any issues with the build.
Fabian adds: “Rather than viewing the budget as a setback, we treated it as a catalyst for a ‘master-plan’ approach.
“We decided to phase the construction to ensure that every pound spent today adds value to the future.
“By pre-installing structural steel and service connections during this first phase, we’ve essentially future-proofed the home.
“When the clients are ready for the loft conversion, the infrastructure will already be in place.
“Therefore, allowing for an evolution of the house with minimal disruption to their daily lives and allow the house to grow with them.”
Photo: Tim Crocker
A blank canvas
To make this as smooth as possible, before the renovation began, the homeowners stripped the interiors back to brick.
This opened the floors and ceilings, giving the architects a blank canvas to work from.
However, as Fabian states, a new project is rarely a blank canvas, but more an unfolding discovery.
“Stripping back the layers of an older property often reveals structural idiosyncrasies that a standard survey might miss.
“While finding hidden repairs can be a momentary shock for a client, we see it as a vital part of the home’s rejuvenation.
“It ensures that the final result isn’t just aesthetically beautiful, but structurally sound and safe for decades to come.” Fabian explains.
How was the Tooting House project achieved?
Fabian explains: “The architects inserted a single-storey extension that houses a new open-plan kitchen and oriel window, designed for entertaining.
“The plan features floor-to-ceiling crittall-style glazing and skylights.
“These are all positioned in a rhythmic pattern determined by the height of the kitchen worktops.
“This language continues through the new oriel window and glazed side entrance.
Photo: Tim Crocker
Natural lighting
One of the big asks at the beginning of the project was to improve the natural light in the property, but how was this achieved?
“We used daylight simulation modelling to move beyond guesswork. However, bringing in light is a balancing act as you have to manage ‘solar gain’.
“This is to prevent the space from overheating, especially given our increasingly hot summers.
“The solution was the architectural canopy. It acts as a passive climate tool, meticulously angled to welcome the low-seated winter sun while providing a deep, protective shadow during the peak of summer.”
Green zinc canopy
Another key element of this renovation was the green zinc canopy and oriel window to improve natural lighting and the flow of the home.
Fabian shares: “The canopy is a piece of bespoke engineering.
“We 3D modelled a series of steel fins that bolt onto the primary frame, which were then wrapped in plywood and clad in green zinc.
“Then, we applied that same precision to the oriel window, by bolting it directly to the structural columns, and this enabled us to achieve a ‘floating’ cantilever.
“We even aligned the steel posts to disappear into the glazing bars, ensuring that the heavy engineering feels practically weightless.”
The bay window was also carefully designed to meet both internal and external spatial requirements.
“Retaining a secondary access route to the rear garden was important to the clients, the oriel projects outward without obstructing the side passage.
“A key visual feature of the project is the green zinc canopy, which wraps around the side and rear of the extension.
“Designed to resemble oxidised copper, the canopy offers passive shading and weather protection while framing views to the garden.
“A tapered edge conceals a hidden gutter system and reduces the perceived visual weight of the roof.”
Photo: Tim Crocker
Zoning the spaces
Another big element of this project was zoning the spaces within the home between public and private.
Fabian believes rather than a reflection of modern home design, this is more for the particular client’s needs.
He explains: “For these clients, the home is a social hub, so we focused on ‘Social Choreography.’
“We designated the ground floor as the public heart of the house, an expansive, interconnected suite of rooms for entertaining while preserving the upper floors as a private sanctuary.
“It’s about creating a home that can transition from a quiet morning coffee to a large dinner party without feeling compromised.”
The utility space was relocated to a cupboard on the first-floor landing, freeing up space in the kitchen and aligning the laundry area with the bedrooms where most washing is generated.
“It made functional sense to place the utility upstairs,” Danker said.
“And it helped clarify the separation between living and sleeping areas.”
Photo: Tim Crocker
The end result
Upon completion of a project, it’s always wonderful to see the result is beautiful.
We can all agree that this is a stunning project that fits seamlessly with the existing building, but how does the architect feel?
Fabian confirms: “I’m incredibly proud of how the transitions feel.
“By embedding the door tracks into the floor and using consistent materials from the kitchen out to the patio, we’ve effectively blurred the line between interior and exterior.
“Achieving that level of seamlessness requires obsessive coordination between the design and the craftsmanship.
“The team at TBS executed our vision with the precision of true craftsmen, and seeing the clients inhabit the space so naturally is the best possible outcome.”
Photo: Tim Crocker
You can find out more about this project here, and discover more about Studio Colab and how to work with them here.
