Gretel House

Gretel (a wire-haired miniature dachshund) found the existing kitchen and conservatory of her London terraced house cold, and poorly related to her garden.

This scheme therefore replaces the conservatory with a new extension that fully opens out to her grounds. Her requirement for the possibility of being fed tit-bits of grilled sausages led to the design including a barbecue, which becomes an extension of the side wall to the kitchen/ living area.

There is an adjacent seat where her owners can sit and pamper her in the sun. The main opening to the extension containing the sliding doors has an outside “raincoat” of brick with a smooth inner lining expressing the cavity wall and creating a sense of interior comfort. Bespoke cast stone forms a masonry course over the lintel which resolves the weight of the wall above and emphasizes the openings of the weep holes. The floor is resin with underfloor heating, providing a comfortable lounging surface that pleasantly warms her tummy.