Crystal Palace Coach House

The site is a compact two-storey former mews house, situated among a cluster of locally Listed Victorian dwellings fronting a narrow lane and located within a Conservation Area.

The ambition for the project was to enlarge the living, cooking and master bedroom spaces. The strategy was to relocate the external space to first floor level, forming a sun terrace and freeing up the ground floor footprint for development. Sinking the new ground floor allowed generous floor to ceiling heights without impacting on the existing first floor level.

A carefully located vertical window opening combined with a full width walk-on roof light with concealed light fittings created a focal point bring light into the sitting area, without adversely impacting on privacy.

Modest, durable, environmentally sound and distinctive, black stained, slatted larch cladding was chosen as a finish. Forming a screened balustrade to the roof terrace, the cladding has a playful surface, revealing glimpses of sky and is a counterpoint to the density of the white rendered coach house.

Not wishing to simply extrude the existing form, a contrasting roof type was proposed, further emphasising the distinction between old and new.

The completed addition is a vibrant counterpoint to the Victorian buildings, respecting the established urban grain whilst leading the ensemble into the 21st century.