Project schedule #4 House Extension in Barnes

Project schedule

Year: 2017-2019

Location: Barnes, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

RIBA Design Stages: 0-5

Architect:

Square One Architects

Structural Engineer:

Glencross & Hudson

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

NEW PROJECT IN BARNES NOW LIVE ON THE WEBSITE

Our project in Barnes Green Conservation area was recently completed and is now live on our website project list…

A rear extension, loft extension with 2 new dormers and internal alterations throughout have transformed our client’s home and we would love for you to take a look; Click here for more information and completion photos. Let us know what you think!

The client originally approached Square One Architects back in 2017 with an exciting project in mind - an extension to their 2-bed terraced house in the beautiful neighbourhood of Barnes, which happened to be located within a Conservation Area. As Architects, we understood the importance of preserving the existing while introducing new elements that would enhance the property in a manner that was in keeping with the existing historic environment.
One of the requests from the client was the design of a new lobby on the ground floor. This lobby served a dual purpose, not only creating a more discreet entrance to the house but also providing a protective measure for the staircase in case of fire. Additionally, we extended the existing kitchen at the rear of the property, utilizing a clever corner sliding door system to flood the ground floor area with natural daylight. To seamlessly connect the indoor and outdoor spaces, we raised the patio to achieve a flush threshold.
Our scope of work extended beyond these key features. We also installed a new guest WC on the ground floor, cleverly utilizing the space under the staircase. Furthermore, we removed an existing chimney breast on both the ground and first floor to make way for the new design.
In terms of adding more space, we introduced new conservation rooflights and dormers that harmonized with the existing windows of the house. This enabled us to create a much-needed third bedroom at roof level. Additionally, we rearranged the existing staircase to ensure maximum head height on the second-floor landing and lowered the first-floor ceiling to optimize head height at the second-floor level.
At Square One Architects, we pride ourselves on not only meeting our clients' needs but also considering the surrounding environment. With this extension project in Barnes, we successfully struck a balance between preserving the character of the Conservation Area and introducing modern, practical elements that enhanced the functionality of the property.