Perry Vale House is a bold and imaginative reinvention of a semi-detached Edwardian home in Forest Hill, south east London. Designed by Wellstudio Architecture for a young family, this striking extension breaks away from generic rear-addition typologies to create something deeply personal, sculptural, and wellness-led.
Rooted in a contemporary reinterpretation of the Arts & Crafts movement, the design fuses traditional craftsmanship with an expressive modern language of arches, curves and natural light. The result is a space that feels serene, soulful, and seamlessly connected to the home’s heritage and the lives of the people within it.
Built in 1901 by celebrated local builder Ted Christmas, the original house is part of the Perry Vale and Christmas Estate Conservation Area – a street of homes known for their distinctive joinery and attention to detail. Rather than compete with this legacy, Wellstudio’s design responds to it – amplifying existing motifs and reimagining them for modern family life. “We love the way the arches and the curves work so beautifully with the original features of our home,” say homeowners Nic and Hayfa. “The view into the garden makes the whole place feel so serene.”
The design begins with a deep respect for context. Drawing from the existing features – most notably, the curved bay window in the rear reception room – the studio developed a new masonry extension that celebrates craftsmanship and the expressive potential of the arch. Rather than a single gesture, the extension is formed through a series of arches and inverted arches that reinterpret traditional motifs in bold, sculptural ways. These shapes are not decorative pastiche, but instead a contemporary response that fuses classical geometry with clean, modern detailing.
At the heart of the composition is a large arched opening in the rear elevation, containing a pair of curved French doors that open onto the garden. Alongside sits a smaller, complementary arched window, a playful nod to the asymmetry and visual rhythm often seen in Edwardian architecture. To the side, a dramatic inverted arch wraps from the rear wall up and over the flat roof, forming a continuous glazed element that links to a high-level side window – also framed within an inverted arch. These are tethered together by a full-width horizontal skylight that brings in daylight from above, connecting the house visually and emotionally to the sky. Below this sweeping glazed arc is a built-in window seat: a space for reflection, rest, or conversation – and one of the family’s favourite spots in the house.
The innovative use of the inverted arch is key to the design’s success. It is at once poetic and practical – giving shape to views, framing natural light, and providing moments of delight. The language of curves continues inside, where the soft angle of the opening between kitchen and dining areas echoes the architecture outside. Together, these gestures break with the rigidity of rectilinear design, offering a more fluid, organic experience of space.
The brief from clients Nic and Hayfa was clear: to transform the cold, compartmentalised ground floor into a warm, welcoming and well-connected space for cooking, entertaining, and family life. With one child and a passion for hosting, they needed a kitchen that worked not just functionally, but emotionally – a space that felt generous, calm, and filled with light. As Nic and Hayfa explain, “We love the way the arches and the curves work so beautifully with the original features of our home. The amount of light coming in and the view into the garden makes the whole place feel so serene.”
The design’s impact is both visual and atmospheric. The open-plan kitchen, dining and living areas are ventilated and bright, optimised for day-to-day family life as well as moments of calm. The north-facing orientation, often a challenge in extensions, has been turned into an asset through the considered positioning of windows, rooflights and internal reflections of light. “Now it’s so bright in here,” Nic reflects, “we’ve managed to keep a bird of paradise alive. So in a way it’s brought new life, not just to the house.”
Materiality plays a crucial role in connecting old and new. The extension uses yellow London stock brick and white lime mortar to mirror the tones of the original building. Bronze-toned aluminium frames bring a quiet richness to the new glazed openings. Inside, a restrained palette of herringbone timber flooring, grey cabinetry, marble worktops and timber cladding to the island brings warmth and texture without visual clutter. The result is a space that feels at once contemporary and timeless, rooted in both the building’s past and the family’s future.
For Wellstudio Architecture, wellness is not an afterthought – it is a founding principle. Their architectural philosophy is built around seven elements of wellbeing: light, air, sound, warmth, touch, togetherness and nature. This framework shaped every decision at Perry Vale House, from the orientation of the rooflight to the tactility of joinery and the layout that encourages shared family moments. It is an approach supported by research and felt in the lived experience of the occupants. As Hayfa says, “We now have a space that is stunning and syncs very well with our lives.”
The clients were closely involved in shaping the project, from early concept stages to specifying finishes such as the gold-toned aluminium glazing. At the same time, they trusted Wellstudio to lead with clarity and vision – embracing bold decisions such as the continuous rooflight and curved geometries. “The success of Perry Vale House is the result of a client who had the vision and trust to support a bold and unique architectural solution,” says Wellstudio founder, Tom Manwell. “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to restore this notable Edwardian building and craft a beautifully bespoke home to support the mental and physical wellbeing of this growing family – and have fun along the way!”
The end result is far more than a rear extension. Perry Vale House redefines what a modest domestic renovation can achieve. Through its commitment to craft, its innovative interpretation of traditional forms, and its dedication to human wellbeing, it sets a benchmark for how contemporary homes can be both beautiful and deeply supportive of modern life. It is a project that brings joy in the everyday – a place to cook, to gather, to rest, and to simply sit and watch the sunlight move across the floor.
