Chiswick

We were approached to refurbish and extend this attractive detached Edwardian property in Chiswick. The clients had lived in the house for a long time and wanted to create a better connection to the garden while also creating some additional space. The project involved adding a basement and a new kitchen dining living space which would create a better relationship with the garden.

The design was based around a striking beam clad in bronze patinated metal, which served to both support the open corner of the extension while creating a distinctive architectural and sculptural element in the garden. This was developed from our Wimbledon project which was a source of inspiration to the clients but with some adjustments tailored to this house.

The new extension is carefully designed to create an unencumbered view of the garden. The flying corner removes any requirement for structural support of the roof. Additionally, all the glazing can be slid away, and all the blinds and window tracks are concealed to create a seamlessly open connection to the garden. This feature allows dramatic views through the house, all the way from the front door and creates a strong contrasting feature compared with the rest of the house.

A formal landscaping scheme further compliments the new extension creating a connection and cohesion between the inside and the outside.

An external walk on rooflight provides natural light down to the new basement which houses a multipurpose room used as a games and cinema space as well as the client’s purpose made wine cellar. A hidden staircase from the basement provides means of escape but also allows direct access to the garden. In the main house, few changes were made to the layout, but bathrooms were updated, and new joinery was added to the bedroom to create a consistent character to the interior design and create a dialogue with the new additions.

The project has allowed for the creation of additional space with a bold architectural statement, while also enhancing and improving the existing features of the house. In this project, care was taken to ensure that every alteration and addition gets the most out of the house either in terms of enhancing its existing qualities or adding new features.