Park Avenue South, London

The extension, which was developed through a series of folded paper sketch models, uses a lightweight steel frame to form a faceted surface for the glass and black zinc roof.

The secondary timber structure allows for the roof and walls to be ‘super-insulated’, offsetting the large area of glazing. All double glazed units have low e-coating, to provide an element of solar shading.

Internally the white oiled ash floorboards and sharp white facets of the ceiling form a bright lining to the dark outer-garment. The open plan space is divided by a long work bench clad in mitred Assaluto Nero granite: a single step down into the kitchen allows this bench to seamlessly form a counter top and a cantilevered table.

Two solid doors lead onto granite terraces - the larger door weighs 300kg. The simple gesture of opening these doors dramatically changes the space: from a cocoon to a garden pavilion.