Howard Road

The garden room has been designed to create an adaptable family living space that replaces separate cramped and cellular rooms at the rear of the property. It houses kitchen, dining and play areas offering a flexible space defined by its natural material palette, concealment of storage and framing of natural light; the result is a simple and ordered space that reconnects the house with its garden.

The design uses a mixture of exposed clay plaster, terrazzo and bespoke timber joinery with reclaimed London stock brick externally to create a contemporary extension that complements the original Victorian house.

Distinct and defined moments are created throughout the space. Southern light is captured through birch ply rafters that maintain privacy while casting dynamic shadows that evolve throughout the day. Sightlines and views from the existing house to the garden are enhanced with daylight brought deeper into the plan.

Natural materiality is key to the scheme with violet coloured clay plaster used extensively for its beautiful, subtle texture that adds movement and softness to the space. The plaster wraps the walls and ceiling, giving the room a natural warmth and atmosphere that promotes a sense of wellness. The clay plaster has the ability to regulate relative humidity, allow the building to breathe, and also absorb toxins, odours and regulate the acoustics of the space – a key aspiration of the client.

Annual CO2 data was not provided