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Room of the Week: A New Courtyard Extension Transforms a Victorian Semi
This ground-floor extension has made room for a lovely, light-filled kitchen-diner and living area, plus a tranquil outside space
When the owners of this run-down Victorian property in London decided to radically transform the interior into a flexible family home, they turned to architects Fiona Kirkwood and Sophie McCarthy.
“We collaborated with the clients from the outset on the look and layout of the home,” explains director Fiona Kirkwood. “They came to us with some early ideas of potential layouts and through this process the idea for a courtyard emerged.”
“We collaborated with the clients from the outset on the look and layout of the home,” explains director Fiona Kirkwood. “They came to us with some early ideas of potential layouts and through this process the idea for a courtyard emerged.”
The sun-filled courtyard successfully bridges all the elements of the house.
“In this one space, you see all the different materials and parts of the house converge under the dappled light of the acer tree,” says Kirkwood.
Discover how to create a stunning courtyard garden
“In this one space, you see all the different materials and parts of the house converge under the dappled light of the acer tree,” says Kirkwood.
Discover how to create a stunning courtyard garden
The new ground-floor extension is a vaulted structure that accommodates open-plan living and dining and provides an extra 40 sq m of new space.
“We were limited in being able to extend any further because of a mature mountain ash tree the clients wished to keep,” says Kirkwood. “So we worked with the tree, designing the form of the extension roof to lean away from the tree canopy towards the original house. Structurally, we had to cantilever the floor to allow the adequate spread for the root system and changing soil conditions.”
The designers used a clear contrast of materials for the old and new elements: graphite zinc, black steel and minimalist detailing are juxtaposed against the softly textured brick and timber panelling of the original house.
“We were limited in being able to extend any further because of a mature mountain ash tree the clients wished to keep,” says Kirkwood. “So we worked with the tree, designing the form of the extension roof to lean away from the tree canopy towards the original house. Structurally, we had to cantilever the floor to allow the adequate spread for the root system and changing soil conditions.”
The designers used a clear contrast of materials for the old and new elements: graphite zinc, black steel and minimalist detailing are juxtaposed against the softly textured brick and timber panelling of the original house.
The kitchen was previously in a small extension that had been tacked onto the rear of the property. It was accessed through a utility room and had no engagement with the rest of the house, nor was it big enough for the family, so this structure was demolished.
“As kitchens are congregation points, we wanted the location of this one to be central within the ground floor layout,” says Kirkwood. “So it was sited adjoining the courtyard and connects the more private, formal front living rooms with the new living/dining space and garden.”
Black, powder-coated steel kitchen cabinets are raised on legs to create a lightness and appear more like furniture.
“Victorian-style floor tiles are used in the working zone of the kitchen, not only as a nod to the building’s vintage, but to provide a more resilient surface that can be carried through from outside.”
“As kitchens are congregation points, we wanted the location of this one to be central within the ground floor layout,” says Kirkwood. “So it was sited adjoining the courtyard and connects the more private, formal front living rooms with the new living/dining space and garden.”
Black, powder-coated steel kitchen cabinets are raised on legs to create a lightness and appear more like furniture.
“Victorian-style floor tiles are used in the working zone of the kitchen, not only as a nod to the building’s vintage, but to provide a more resilient surface that can be carried through from outside.”
The existing living rooms at the front of the house remain, although these are now used for music practice and watching films.
“The new living space provides an open, south-facing family space that has a completely different quality to the original front rooms,” says the designer.
Whitewashed brickwork and the vaulted ceiling amplify the sense of light in here. Huge glazed sliding doors let natural daylight flood in and open up the interior to the garden.
Wood-burning stove, Chilli Penguin. Light fittings, Dowsing & Reynolds.
“The new living space provides an open, south-facing family space that has a completely different quality to the original front rooms,” says the designer.
Whitewashed brickwork and the vaulted ceiling amplify the sense of light in here. Huge glazed sliding doors let natural daylight flood in and open up the interior to the garden.
Wood-burning stove, Chilli Penguin. Light fittings, Dowsing & Reynolds.
The house was in a serious state of disrepair and hadn’t been touched for about 70 years.
“We had hoped to preserve the original bones and details of the home, although in the end all that was left were the external walls!” Kirkwood says. “The portals from the kitchen to the new living-dining space were previously windows and doors. The sills were lowered to floor level and the existing external brick wall has been painted white.”
“We had hoped to preserve the original bones and details of the home, although in the end all that was left were the external walls!” Kirkwood says. “The portals from the kitchen to the new living-dining space were previously windows and doors. The sills were lowered to floor level and the existing external brick wall has been painted white.”
A guest cloakroom is now tucked neatly under the stairs.
Here’s what you need to consider when planning a rear extension
Here’s what you need to consider when planning a rear extension
This floor plan shows the new layout of the house.
What do you think of this light-filled extension? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What do you think of this light-filled extension? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A couple and their two sons
Location Muswell Hill, north London
Size 40 sq m; part of a Victorian semi-detached house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
Architects Fiona Kirkwood and Sophie McCarthy of Kirkwood McCarthy
The design concept centred on a new rear ground-floor extension. On the western boundary, the space encloses a sun-filled courtyard between the original property, a previous rear extension and the newly extended living area.
“The courtyard links the utility room, which leads out from the cream doors (shown here), the study, kitchen and dining room, and has a footprint of 10 square metres,” explains Fiona Kirkwood. “All of our projects have architecturally integrated garden spaces that maximise the social experience. In this instance, a walled courtyard was the best solution.”