New project in Kingston

Square One Architects is thrilled to share that we've been chosen to work on expanding a detached house in Kingston. This project gives us the chance to improve the current building by smoothly combining traditional and modern elements to make a practical and balanced living area. Our team is excited to collaborate with the client and develop creative designs that go beyond their needs.

The project will involve big changes to all parts of the property. It includes adding a new extension at ground level, an infill extension at first floor level, and extending the roof. These changes aim to make the property more practical, improve its layout, and make it look better. The project will be done thoughtfully, making sure the new parts fit well with the original design to create a unified structure.

The ground floor of the property will be designed to integrate the kitchen, dining, and living areas into an open plan layout, fostering a sense of spaciousness and fluidity. Additionally, the inclusion of a new utility room, pantry, and guest WC adds functionality and convenience to the living space. On the first floor, two bedrooms, a study, and a family bathroom will provide ample accommodation for residents. The proposed roof extension is intended to accommodate a new master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe, adding a touch of luxury to the property's upper level.

We'll be posting more images to show the progress of the project. Keep an eye out for more glimpses of our current and upcoming architectural projects.

Site visit in Kingston

Today we had the opportunity to visit one of our construction sites in Kingston, where we are working on an exciting project for a full extension to a large detached house. The progress is quite impressive, and we can't wait to see the project completed after Christmas. We will make sure to provide more images to keep you updated on the transformation!

This project started back in 2019 with the extension of a 4-bed detached house in Kingston. Initially, the property was extended at ground floor level to the back and side in 2012. This was preceded by a first-floor extension on the side in 1969. However, the client had plans for further expansion and received planning approval for a loft extension in 2015. Unfortunately, upon reviewing the room's size, they decided it wouldn't meet their needs, and construction was put on hold.

One of the main concerns expressed by the client was the lack of natural light, making it a top priority to improve the daylight intake in the house. In line with their requirements, our proposals focused on a number of key areas. Firstly, we planned to square off the rear extension at ground floor level, creating a new office that would benefit from a large skylight and window. Additionally, we designed a first-floor extension in this area, providing extra space for one of the bedrooms.

On the opposite side of the property, we designed a first-floor side extension with dual purposes: to provide valuable space for a home office at first-floor level and to increase the overall footprint of the house for a subsequent loft extension. The front of the house was also extended, resulting in a double-height space featuring generous glass surfaces that bring in natural light and create a visually striking entrance.

To accommodate the loft extension, we completely redesigned the roof. The new roof not only has a larger footprint but also stands higher than the existing one. This new volume, combined with a large rear dormer, allowed us to create a spacious master bedroom with breathtaking views of Richmond Park. This bedroom also boasts a generous en-suite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe, providing the ultimate sanctuary for the homeowners.

We are proud of the progress that has been made on this project and are confident that the end result will be a stunningly transformed home, filled with natural light and offering an abundance of space. Stay tuned for more updates and visuals as we continue to bring this vision to life.

Project schedule #9 House extension in Kingston

 Infill extensions are not only for enlarging interior rooms but are also a great way to make better use of awkward spaces and working with the orientation of the building as seen in this project of 2020.

The project was a large 5-bed detached house on Richmond Road in Kingston featuring Tudor Revival elements to the front and a large garden to the rear. It also featured a side extension, built in the 90’s as a utility area. It was poorly built and created a garden patio that was always shaded by the main building.

The existing kitchen was rather small for the needs of the family and did not accommodate the modern lifestyle offered by an open plan kitchen/dining/living space. Similarly, the arrangement of the rooms on the first floor seemed to be outdated, with bedrooms needing more space and additional bathrooms.

Our approach to these concerns began by reconsidering the position of the house on site and its orientation. By using infill extensions, we expanded the house to the South and West eliminating dark corners and unused outdoor areas. We carefully considered the direction of daylight and the orientation of the extension so as to have the internal spaces benefit from natural light as much as possible. At the same time, the newly extended house was designed to provide more privacy to the rear garden from the street, more options for internal arrangement of spaces, yet with minimal impact to its overall volume and to the neighbouring properties through careful considerate distancing from the boundary and positioning of openings.

With the new ground floor rear and side extension, more space was freed up to design a bright and open plan space to house the kitchen, dining and living area with direct views and access to the rear garden and a more free-flowing circulation with the inner parts of the house. Through the newly designed arrangement and new windows and doors more light now floods the interiors highlighting architectural details such as the central staircase.

From the outside the new rear extension compliments the form of the house which now also features a gable roof with dormers on both sides. The additions allow for additional spaces on the upper floors including a master bedroom with an en-suite, an additional bathroom and larger second floor rooms benefitting from the added head height. On the ground floor the utility room was redesigned and an additional study room added in the now expanded footprint, resulting in a house that not only meets the clients' needs but promotes comfortable and healthy living conditions.

House in Kingston under construction

We were thrilled to visit our project for a large extension and renovation of a detached house in Kingston and were delighted to see the progress being made. The construction works are moving at an impressive pace, and we anticipate the scaffolding being erected soon to commence the expansive loft extension. We will provide you with further updates in due course!

When we first arrived at the site during the early stages of the project, we were impressed by the scale of the plot on which the original detached house sat. In the 90s, an extension was added to the side of the house to create a utility area. However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that the built quality of this side extension left much to be desired, particularly in the case of its flat roof.

Taking into consideration the clients' feedback during our initial meetings, we carefully devised a design that prioritized their desire for a more spacious and open kitchen/dining/living area. To achieve this, we embarked on a thoughtfully planned extension at the rear and side of the property, ensuring that the front reception room and hallway were preserved in their original form. Additionally, we incorporated a utility area/boot room and a cozy study on the ground floor for added functionality.

Moving up to the first floor, we designed a side extension to accommodate a stunning new en-suite bathroom. And we went even further by undertaking a generous loft extension on the second floor, creating a luxurious new bedroom complete with an en-suite bathroom.

In addition to the transformations happening within the main house, we also provided a design to revamp the large garage into a vibrant playroom, complete with its very own convenience—a WC. The aim was to provide a space dedicated to amusement and entertainment for the whole family.

As we await the completion of this exceptional project, we are continuously amazed by the progress and the positive impact it will bring to our clients' lives. Stay tuned for further updates on this exciting project!

Look Out Day at the Kingston School of Art Architecture.

On March 4th we attended for the second year in a row the Look Out Day at the Kingston School of Art Architecture.

Square One Architects helped provide an opportunity for Kingston University students to develop their employability skills and build their network.

It was great to meet so many motivated students and have the opportunity to see their work!

What is the lookout day at kingston university?

Last year the Kingston University Architecture School got in touch with us. They were looking for local practices and employers from the South West London region to take part in a series of professional skills workshops with their students. The afternoon workshops were followed by a view of the Summer Show in the evening.

This event was part of Kingston's 'Looking Out' series in which the school invites practitioners, alumni and current practicing tutors to contribute practical advice about the profession.

Workshops included speed interviews and portfolio/CV reviews as well as the opportunity for practices to present themselves to final year students soon to be looking for work.

This was a great opportunity to meet and form connections with some very talented students before they graduated in the summer and help to bridge the gap between academia and the wider profession.

Fort two years Square One Architects participated to this event and we were not disappointed. From an academic point of view, I have always been a strong proponent of creating links between universities and local practices for several reasons.

The most important one is that university studies can be very theoretical. There is nothing wrong with theory, however architecture is a very hand on discipline, and it is not unusual to find very green architectural assistants who need significant coaching when hired by a practice. This is standard practice for any architectural office; however, universities can help easing this task by supplementing their teaching with a more practical approach.

In this regard I can confirm that Kingston is doing a very good job. We are currently working with a Kingston graduate and her approach has been very effective from day one. This was a huge relief for a Director who is very busy carrying out many tasks at the same time!

Rear extension in Kingston now completed

Our project in Kingston for a rear extension has now been completed. Find more information and completion photos here…

Our project for a rear extension to a historic house in Kingston has been completed.

The client came to us in 2018 with a request to remove an existing unused conservatory with a solid rear extension that would supply a generous amount of daylight whilst being perfectly useable throughout the year.

The client, a retired couple, also requested Square One Architects to overlook the construction of the extension since they lived half of the year in the United States.

At the beginning of the project we tabled several options that used the same existing footprint as the original conservatory. Following the first few meetings it was decided to carry out a rear extension with a pitched roof that would be in keeping with the character of the existing historic property and the area in general.

The client also decided to use welsh slates for the roof that is a typical material in this type of houses.

Following planning we worked on the building control and tender package obtaining building control approval and several quotes for our clients’ consideration.

At the end of this stage the client chose a contractor that managed to build the project with a limited amount of supervision from our part, given the very detailed instructions included in our drawings that we provided at detailed design and pre-construction stage

The result is a beautiful rear extension that uses traditional materials welsh slates, reclaimed bricks and white windows with a contemporary spin.

Work in progress: House extension in Kingston

Another view of the preliminary design for a ground floor rear extension to a semi-detached house in Kingston. The intent is to integrate the existing window and chimney breast with the new kitchen, creating a low window seat that can be enjoyed by the family.

In this view we tried to highlight the relationship between the kitchen area to the left and the open plan dining space to the right. The seamless ceiling transition helps to make these two spaces feel connected and cohesive from a design perspective.

The same floor will be used for both the existing floor plan and the new extension, leaving the two structural piers as the only demarcation between the original rear of the house and the extended portion.

An interesting feature of the existing house is the presence of a side window that is our intention to turn into a window seat that will feel like an extension of the kitchen itself.

Window seats are a fun feature that help creating some interesting corners that can relate to other elements of the room, in this specific case the kitchen island and breakfast bar right in front of it.

The kitchen, island, window seat and the extension’s window and skylights will all contribute to create an interesting space to be lived by our clients.

Daylight and luminance analysis for an extension in Kingston

We regularly use analysis tools to predict the amount of daylight received in a space as a function of the openings size, location and moment of the year. In this view we are showing the predicted Luminance on the 21st of March at 12.00 for our new ground floor extension in Kingston.

Daylight analysis tools offer to foresee the exact amount of daylight received by a determined space in several moments of the year. These tools are always very helpful in general, but they play a crucial role in our designs. By scrolling through our project images it is easy to see that daylight intake is a common thread, we are convinced that daylight within a household plays an huge factor in the health and well being of its inhabitants and we feel a duty as Architect to try and optimize this factor in all our projects.

In the case of this project for a rear extension in Kingston, we analysed the daylight intake with a configuration of a sliding door at the right, a generous window at the left and three skylights placed in the middle of the rear extension’s ceiling. With this type of diagram, it is very easy to see that the daylight will be very evenly distributed throughout the floor plan without being overwhelming (refer to the area in green).

Lighting design is a complex discipline, but we try to explain these metrics and parameters to the clients in a very straightforward way so they can understand the rational behind the dimension of the openings in their extensions.

These tools have become an essential part of our work at any stages of the design, especially at preliminary stages prior to submitting a planning application. We look forward to seeing this project finished and show this point with the final pictures.

Work in progress: Rear extension in Kingston

Another image of our new project for a rear extension in Kingston featuring an open space kitchen/living/dining

This image highlights a very important design feature that is often overlooked, the seamless ceiling transition between the existing house and the new extension.

From a design perspective this is an ideal solution when we are dealing with flat ceilings with an identical head height. The lack of any beam or bulkhead separating the spaces creates the feeling of a cohesive space with one unobstructed ceiling. The other major advantage of this type of solution is that daylight coming from the skylights in the new extension does not get blocked by any obstructions at ceiling level. This guarantees optimal daylight distribution within the floor plan.

There are some structural implications with this type of solution that need to be assessed by qualified engineers and architects and discussed with he builder, however the end result is always wotlrth the effort. In the case of this project in Kingston the open plan will feel bright and spacious with a cohesive design that will give the impression of a very natural space that was always meant to be there.

We can’t wait to see this project finished and show how effective this solution can be through the final pictures. In the meantime you can see another project for a rear extension where a similar solution was adopted by clicking here.

A picture of the project in Wimbledon under construction can be seen here.

Work in progress: House extension in Kingston

First image of our new project for a rear extension in Kingston

Square One Architects have been appointed to redesign the rear extension of a large XIX century semi-detached house in Kingston.

The property in question was extended in 2003 by the previous owners however the clients were not happy with the overall design.

Their main complaint regarded the amount of daylight that they received within the ground floor of the property and the connection between the extension and the rest of the house. In fact, the existing extension was separated from the original rear of the property by a thick wall with two small openings causing the original rooms facing the back garden to be extremely dark.

This is very typical situation. Extending traditional properties without any consideration given to daylight intake always carries the potential risk of creating spaces that feel dark and separated.

The clients’ brief included the removal of the non-original extension and replacement with a new one that would allow a generous amount of daylight throughout the ground floor of the property. They also wanted to carry out some internal alterations that would allow to have a seamless connection between the existing spaces and the new extended section of the house.

The project also included moving the existing kitchen to the new open plan area, using the original kitchen space as a playroom.

As a practice we felt that we were the perfect match for this type of project given our expertise in residential design with a focus on the south west of London and our specialist expertise in lighting design.

The layout shown in the drawing above exemplifies our ideas for this project where the internal space formed by the existing house and the new extension feel like one.

A set of sliding doors, two large roof lights and a spectacular l-shaped window to the opposite corner will allow for daylight to be distributed throughout the floor plan.