This North London refurbishment provides a place of retreat in a busy urban environment. The period property has been tranformed inside and out to include a new charred timber bedroom extension along with a sympathetic refurbishment of the original dwelling. The internal spaces flow seamlessly to the terrace at the rear, effectively doubling the footprint of the apartment through the creation of an ‘outdoor living room’. Long grasses, climbing plants and slatted screens are positioned to provide a sense of enclosure and allow nature take over this part of the city. 

What was the brief?

To provide an oasis away from the busy city and allow the owners space to relax and enjoy their surroundings.

What were the solutions?

Make the most of the high ceilings to provide clever storage solutions. Use materials that would unite and tie the internal spaces to the exterior.

What were the key challenges?

To provide a sympathetic restoration of the original building fabric along with contemporary materials. Space in this part of the city is at a premium, so we needed to provide a design that would make the most of every 'nook and cranny'.

Key products used:

Charred timer (shou sugi ban), composite decking boards, timber windows.

Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?

They are a young, aspiring couple (teacher and founder of a succesful IT business) with a new baby on the way.

How is the project unique?

The amount of external space associated with an apartment of this size is quite large. It was a case of unifying the internal / external spaces through the addition of the new charred timber bedroom.

What building methods were used?

Timber frame / steel construction for the new elements. Restoration of the existing building fabric for the original parts of the building.

What are the sustainability features?

Timber frame / state of the art heating / smart technologies to control energy use and heating output.