Project schedule
Year: 2017-2019
Location: Barnes, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
RIBA Design Stages: 0-5
Architect:
Structural Engineer:
Building Control:
Building Control Approval
We started this project in 2017 for the client, a family of two.
The brief included a ground floor rear extension and a loft conversion to an existing terraced house in Barnes, South West London. The property fell within the Barnes Green Conservation Area.
As it often happens in these cases the challenges were not just architectural and structural. Planning in these instances can represent a potential roadblock, especially with the property falling in a Conservation Area.
The proposals were discussed with the client and then agreed with the planning officers. In this case we worked very hard with the Council proving the presence of similar precedents on the road and discussing the best design for the roof in order to be in keeping with the style of the Conservation Area. The initial proposals for a larger rear dormer was amended to allow for two smaller conservation style lead dormers that were welcome by the Council.
The property was also extended to the rear in order to form a new open plan layout with a galley kitchen opening on a patio that constitutes the only outside area of the house. In order to maximize the feel of space between the inside and the outside it was decided to have a flush threshold between the floors and use the same tiles for both the kitchen area and the patio. A set of large sliding doors also helped to create the feeling of a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor space. This project is an example of how good design can help maximize the spatial feeling even when square footage is limited.
An additional technical complication was the presence of a manhole within the existing property which had been double sealed. In order to carry out our extension and alterations we had to move the manhole to the new patio and reach an agreement with Thames Water.
We also pushed both the contractor and structural engineer to conceal the new structure within the existing ceiling to form a smooth transition between the various spaces at ground floor level.
In the end we were very pleased with the result and consider this project to be extremely successful.
Before and after images
Ground floor kitchen and dining
Ground floor patio and kitchen area
Second floor guest bedroom