Victoria Park II
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Rather than extending, this corner house is totally transformed within its existing footprint
The bold excavation of the existing garden to basement level is a clever reinvention of the space. Victoria Park ii is a three bedroom maisonette occupying the lower two floors of a four-storey Victorian terrace corner house.
The client wanted a larger, brighter living space and extra bedroom within a tight site which had already been extended. This is achieved through the bold yet simple decision to excavate the garden to basement level, reinventing the existing extension within the same footprint. While little area is added, the experience of the house is entirely transformed - a new light-filled living space now opens onto a beautiful sunken garden.
Natural light is further increased by a small internal courtyard which can be fully opened on to the room. The material composition reflects the significant structural work required, with retaining walls left exposed with board marked concrete. This is paired with contrasting white stained larch cladding, selected for its light reflective qualities. Larch was used as formwork for the board marking, creating a horizontal pattern which reads across and unites the two contrasting materials.
On the upper floor, rebuilding in the right places enabled a small bathroom to be replaced by a compact bedroom. Structural ply fins are exposed to maximise space, fitting secret storage between them and a bespoke plywood bed. A new outdoor terrace is accessed through a half-sized door leading straight from the bedside. The bedroom volume is covered by a sedum green roof. In this project, it is the process of taking away, rather than adding that has completely reinvented the space.
Photography by Charles Hosea
Data
- Begun: Aug 2018
- Completed: Feb 2019
- Floor area: 97m2
- Sector: Residential
- Total cost: £190,000
- Funding: Private
- Tender date: Jan 2018
- Procurement: JCT MW16 / traditional
- Address: London, E9, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: ZCD Architects
- Client: Private
- Structural engineer: Blue Engineering
- Quantity surveyor: Morgan Carr
- Main contractor: ASAP Construction
Suppliers
- Selected subcontractors and suppliers: Flooring: Sphere 8, Glazing: Maxlight, Solarlux and Maxlight