Friern Terrace

The clients on this project approached us to look at how to transform the back of their Victorian terrace from a dark narrow kitchen into a bright, invigorating family space, which now incorporates a kitchen, reading room and bathroom. The brief was driven by the desire to make the house open plan, to maximise the internal space and maintain as much depth of the garden as possible.

The ceiling heights were very low and the site is also sandwiched between two low extensions, so the key challenge was to create something that gives height and light.

Our response was to design an extension that keeps the plan depth manageable and avoids overpowering or encroaching on the garden, while bringing as much light into the space from as many different aspects as possible. The zinc-clad kitchen has roof lights over the working area, which also draw light into the drawing room behind. The addition of a small reading room to the rear of the space incorporates a window seat maximising opportunities to enjoy views of the outside, as well as sliding doors into the garden.

Linking the extension to the garden through the use of colour and materials was a key tool in making the space feel as unified and spacious as possible.