Gladsmuir House

An entirely Douglas fir framed and clad extension was devised to provide additional living space to the rear of the property. The small angled garden room unites and expands the lower ground floor, releasing a deceptively large sense of space at only 11sqm. The form of the extension was drawn from the existing site conditions and split-level configuration of the house; the stepped volume responding to the heights of the adjacent properties and the pre-existing kitchen side extension, the angled plan aligning with the neighbouring properties.

The room projects into the garden harnessing a new aspect of long south westerly views back into the house. The sculptural form appears to alter throughout the day as sunlight rotates across the grain of the pine surfaces, endlessly animating the space inside and out. The timber frame is left exposed, with infill Douglas fir panelling and timber framed glazed doors. The interior is stained with a white oil bringing a warm and peaceful quality to the space, the exterior is stained in a vibrant blue contrasting with the vivid orange brick. The extension is topped with a sedum green roof. The kitchen was revamped in situ, with the middle room remodelled to house utility joinery on the central corridor, with an ancillary kitchen pantry behind. The former basement storage now houses a playroom and shower room that can be isolated as guest accommodation, with windows reintroduced to the front lightwells. The top floor was converted as a master suite, with a large rooflight over a central shower, and raised bath to capture the stunning views over London.