Direct commission to enlarge an end-of-terrace Victorian house in Forest Gate with a side/rear extension and loft conversion.

The task was to provide significantly more space for living and bedrooms; the house was very compact and the clients approached us after an unsuccessful application for a two-storey side extension. A side extension replaces the existing roofed car-port and contains the kitchen, utility room and downstairs WC; this connects accross to the rear extension containing a garden-level living room. New spaces are strongly oriented to the garden with large sliding doors and draw in far more natural light via large rooflights in the inclined roofs. From what was a small, disconnected kitchen-dining arrangement there is now a light and generous space directly connected to the garden.

Creating access to the loft extension involved reversing the direction of the centrally-located staircase, involving major reorganisation of the first floor bedrooms. All chimney breasts were removed in order to maximise the internal space available. All spaces are now insulated, significantly improving the energy use.

The high-quality waterstruck brickwork of the new extensions is a lighter buff to contrast and complement the existing house. Using a Flemish bond throughout, along the side street elevation the headers are inset slightly to create a texture as the sun comes along the western elevation. The location of the original side bay window is represented as three rectangles. Internally, selective exposed steels, brickwork and timber in the new areas contrast with the plastered finish of the existing house. The client is taking a very active role in the construction process and brings an eye for careful finishing and detailing.