A ground-floor rear and side extension to a Victorian terraced house in Archway, Islington. The owners wanted a space that felt contemporary but that maintained the character and warmth of the existing house, integrating comfortably with the period home without feeling clinical. The space created is the new heart of the home, containing a kitchen, dining area and living room.
Architecturally, we wanted to create a room that felt calm, robust and domestic — all qualities we enjoyed about the existing house. Oak is used extensively, from the parquet flooring to the exposed joists and linings on the ceiling, while two new rooflights flood the room with natural daylight. A bespoke kitchen and joinery help to navigate the extensive level changes between the new extension and the existing house.
Externally, a solid brick expression was chosen: one that does not fight for attention or show off, but provides a suitable counterpoint to the existing house, with additional detail given by the exaggerated gauged arches.
Photographs by Adam Scott
