Arbuthnot Road SE14

The side return part-infill, rear addition and renovation of the ground floor providing a new flexible-use kitchen and dining space. The key driver behind the client’s brief was to create both a functional family kitchen and a versatile social space to be used for entertaining which also provides a direct connection to the once easily forgotten and under-utilised rear garden. Previously used as purely a route to and from the garden room, the multi-use addition to this home opens into the rear garden enabling the rear of the house to function together. The new rear glazing is formed by two elements. Firstly, the large pivot door providing access into the garden and creating visual continuity, drawing you through the house from the entrance hallway - which was distinctly lacking before. Secondly, the dual-sided window seat, internally used for dining, externally for seating and enjoying the garden of a summer evening. Furthermore, both elements of glazing fold back to the central masonry wall, fully opening the rear elevation to the garden. These two elements (access and seating) were fundamental in developing the layout of the internal and external spaces, creating clarity of circulation and the window seat informing and being formed within the architecture itself. Due to the North West orientation, the angled larch cladding and brickwork are used to 'scoop' in (notionally and actually) the afternoon and evening sun. Use of ceiling/roof forms and rooflights to zone the differing uses (kitchen, dining and circulation). The vaulted ceiling with exposed Douglas fir timber roof structure frames the rooflights, provides privacy, and maximises the daylight received and height whilst falling within planning guidance.