Contrasting charred timber-clad garden room with planted green roof connects to orange brick listed building via contemporary glazed link to create new private serene family dining space
Project Information
Category
Residential
Location
London
Year
2024
Cost
Confidential
Client
Private
Architect
Ambient Studio
Heritage Consultant
The Heritage Practice
Structural Engineer
Elite Designers
Party Wall Surveyor
Teague & Co
Sat upon a beautiful leafy residential street within the Belsize Park Conservation Area in Camden, North London, this stunning 5-storey, grade II listed arts & crafts building comprises of 5 dwellings, one of which sits quaintly over the upper and lower ground floor, untouched for years and in need of refurbishment.
The client sought to both reconfigure and modernise the duplex garden flat by drastically opening up the currently fragmented and awkwardly arranged lower ground floor to create one large spacious, connected kitchen / living area.
Through removing the internal partitions that previously divided the front from the rear, a central axis was established, respecting the prominent front bay window, around which a symmetrical opening connects the kitchen and living area. The downstairs toilet is relocated to sit neatly below the stairs, this making the uninterupted opening feasible. Furthermore, a new side entrance canopy is created to formalise the lower ground floor entrance.
To the rear, a new dedicated family dining space is created within a contemporary and distinct charred timber clad extension, connected to the historic architecture via a minimal frameless glazed link, ensuring that the new connects to the old in the most delicate yet dramatic fashion. Large sliding glazed doors open up onto a sunken rear patio providing a spill-out social space in front of the planted rear garden beyond. A planted green roof softens the new architecture as experienced from above.
To the upper floors, minor reconfigurations tidy up an otherwise largely functional floor plan comprising of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The central room is designed as a multi-functional space which can serve up as a home studio, where new enlarged side-facing glazed door openings provide framed views of the planted roof of the new side canopy from a reinstated upper ground floor entrance, opening up from the communcal hallway.
The project required detailed discussions with Camden’s Heritage Officer, this relying upon the execution of thorough historic analysis and the preparation of persuasive design information.
A serene private dining room is created within a contrasting charred timber-clad extension, characterised by full-height sliding glazed doors spanning between a brick paved sunken patio and a planted green roof.
Respecting both the form and fabric of the historic building, a frameless glazed link is centred around the rear bay door opening, minimising material disruption and resulting in a delicate ‘lightweight’ connection from old to new.
Tina & Stefan, Muswell Hill, London
Faced with the complex heritage requirements of our Grade II listed home, Ambient Studio navigated the consent process with diligence and precision. With pragmatic advice, trusted builder recommendations, strategic thinking, and ongoing support, they were a pleasure to work with — fast, responsive, efficient, collaborative, communicative and highly knowledgeable.
