Bruce Grove
This striking project comprises a full reconfiguration and remodel of a cramped Victorian converted house together with the addition of two contemporary, faceted timber framed structures, carefully added within the rear garden.
Originally a Victorian terraced townhouse, the property had been unsympathetically divided into two flats, resulting in cramped, overlooked, dark, and poorly planned living spaces, a common issue with many London properties.
Our clients, an illustrator and art technician, and an haute couture dressmaker, purchased a share of the freehold and the ground floor garden flat with a genuine desire to renovate and extend the property. Their vision was to create a beautiful, naturally lit flat with additional bedrooms, living areas, and an artist studio.
As talented and creative individuals, our clients were actively involved in the design and interior fit-out process, intending to self-build as much as possible to make the project economically viable. An early decision was to make the new additions to the property simple insulated timber frame constructions that could be built directly by our clients, with limited specialist trades then brought in as required to complete more technical elements of the project.
The scheme was completed in two main phases. The first phase involved an extension, remodel, and refurbishment of the main flat, while the second phase focused on constructing a new studio building in the garden. The studio provides a dedicated workspace for our clients, with the flexibility to double as guest accommodation, complete with a compact shower room and toilet.
The original layout consisted of a basic repurposing of the ground floor, with living space in the original front reception room, only one bedroom in the rear reception room, and a cramped bathroom located between the kitchen/dining area and the garden.
To optimize the space and establish a direct connection with the outdoors, the bathroom was relocated to the centre of the plan, allowing for the opening up of the rear of the house. The new extension provides open-plan living space that seamlessly interacts with the garden. The extension’s unique design fans out from the back wall of the original house, angling the large sliding doors to capture the maximum amount of open sky. This not only increases the internal living space but also creates a ‘secret garden’ along the side of the house, while still allowing access and daylight to/from the side return through strategically placed windows and a new side door.
The extension incorporates large rooflights that, combined with the removal of internal walls in the rear of the existing flat, allow natural light to flood the living, kitchen, and dining areas. The original reception room, previously disconnected from the rest of the house, was converted into a new master bedroom. Further bespoke built-in storage and a sliding partition was added in the hallway, providing ample storage space and separating the bedroom wing from the living accommodation.
To establish a visual harmony with the extension’s design, a non-symmetrical roof pitch was employed, adding further interest and dynamism to its form and the setting it creates. The extension itself was clad in cost-effective timber battens, stained black to create a bold and confident external composition, softened by the carefully landscaped garden.
The second phase, designed to seamlessly integrate with the overall aesthetic and arrangement of the finished flat and garden, involved the construction of a new studio at the rear of the garden. It features an angled façade and the same blackened timber cladding to complement the main extension. Placing the studio in the overshadowed section of the garden ensures maximum sunlight in the retained garden area. Within the studio, a compact shower room and toilet were installed, while the main space serves as an artist studio, complete with drop-down beds incorporated into bespoke joinery for additional accommodation when needed.
The result of these two phases is a complete transformation of what was once a rundown and poorly converted Victorian terraced flat. It has now become a modern, well-planned, and meticulously designed property, featuring a unique combination of bold, additional constructions and sensitive and imaginatively reconfigured spaces that provide an exceptional live-work environment for this young family.
At ZRP Architects, we highly value our client relationships, recognizing that each project is unique. We thrive on collaboration, working closely with our clients to ensure that each project is tailored to their specific needs, thereby maximizing the opportunities that arise from these partnerships and ensuring the outcome enhances their daily lives.
We take great pride in the work we carried out on this property, as it showcases beautiful, practical, and meticulously crafted architecture entirely tuned to the way our clients want to live.