Tower Hamlets house extension

Work has progressed on-site at Durant Street in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, where two neighbours are concurrently extending and refurbishing a pair of Victorian terrace houses

Architecture for London is an RIBA Chartered Practice. View our project portfolio, or if you would like to discuss improvements to your property please contact us.

The location of the project within the Jesus Hospital Estate Conservation Area dictated that the overall massing strategy for the extensions had to be similar and carried out concurrently. The resulting development includes a two storey out-shot extension to the rear of both along with a single storey side-infill extension on either side.

At ground floor both properties step down from the existing living areas at the front to new open-plan kitchen and dining areas to the rear. The increased ceiling heights combined with new glass box lanterns over the side extensions form spacious and generous rooms that then continue in the gardens beyond.

At first floor three bedrooms and one bathroom is being created at both; with the form of the existing London butterly roofs, an inverted pitch roof, being expressed with opened up ceilings and new rooflights.

Whilst the external massing strategy to both properties is similar the internal layout to each home responds to the individual clients needs with bespoke detailing throughout.

The ambitious two storey extensions were critical due to the limited dimensions of these worker’s cottages. The extensions at first floor allow the houses to become three bedroom family properties with an upstairs family bathroom. The two storey extensions required a complex planning process with the final consents gained at appeal. The project was the first to successfully gain consent for a two storey extension within the conservation area and has since become a reference for other similar applications in Tower Hamlets.

A new open-plan kitchen, dining and living area was created at ground floor which features polished concrete and soap washed douglas fir floors. The bespoke kitchen features copper details, exposed ply edges and douglas fir cupboard doors that match the floorboards.

At first floor, existing ceilings have been opened up to create vaulted spaces that illustrate the original butterfly roof form. New skylights allow generous natural light into the previously dark, windowless circulation spaces. Exposed, lime washed brick details reveal glimpses of the original construction of the house, which has otherwise been double glazed and insulated internally to provide improved thermal performance and airtightness.

Project architect: Matt McKenna

Architecture for London is an RIBA Chartered Practice. View our project portfolio, or if you would like to discuss improvements to your property please contact us.