Private Client

Works to this large end-of-terrace Victorian property in Walthamstow, East London are almost completed. The property sits perpendicular to the adjacent terrace and as a result a large number of properties overlook the side of the house. DEDRAFT were asked to propose the addition of a new side and rear extension aiming to create additional floor area whilst appearing as its own unique element, juxtaposed with the common London stock L-shaped terrace.

The plot featured a long linear, heavily planted garden to the rear with access from the front via a side passageway. As part of our proposed design, we sought to retain and gradually blend this more mature garden into a softer more open external space linking the proposed rear/side additions. Our initial concepts explored the infill of a full wraparound extension unifying the ground floor to create a more spacious rectangular, wide footprint as well as the breaking up of these two proposed elements into separate entities with the aim of enabling the privacy and outlook from each internal space to be addressed more readily.

The completed additions feature the reconfiguration and re-order the existing functions of the ground floor interior to enable a much more open and fluid relationship between the front and rear of the property, with increased opening sizes throughout, longer framed vistas as well as the use of concealed sliding doors giving a degree of flexibility and privacy as required. Furthermore to introduce a distinct order and inject a heavy and significant rhythm to the side and rear elevations the structure was all cast in in-situ concrete with a characterful ‘board-marked’ finish. Along the new side elevation, the structural concrete fins are interspersed with a combination of solid and glazed vertical sections.