Project: Modern Double Storey Extension
Architects: Proctor & Shaw
Location: Herne Hill, Southwark, London
Status: Complete 2018
Engineer: Engineeria Ltd
Photography: Ben Blossom
Text by Proctor & Shaw: The brief was to extend and re-invent the ground floor for modern family life, complete a luxurious master ensuite and maximise the potential of the loft space. A part-two storey rear extension was the result, with a hanging timber clad ‘pod’ forming the dramatic centre piece to the ground floor kitchen/dining space.
We met the clients in early 2017 and were asked to proceed quickly through planning. The fast programme informed the design of the full-width glazed rear extension with stepped flank walls that could be lowered or reduced in length without compromise to the overall design. The flank walls frame the glass sliding doors in brick. The hanging timber pod has a custom roof lights to all three sides with mirror cladding to the supporting beams and therefore appears to float above the kitchen island, forming a dramatic centre piece to the space. A power float concrete floor flows from inside to outside and the new garden, which has been impressively landscaped by the client.
The house, rather unusually, has three floors to the rear and two to the front with impressive 3.0m high ceilings. A standard loft extension was therefore not viable and instead we proposed that the loft was opened up to create large rooms with two floor levels. The master bedroom suite was positioned across the front of the house with a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Internally original details were retained where possible, sometimes with great personal dedication by our client, in contrast to the modern rear extension where robust materials such as timber and concrete are expressed.
