forresterarchitects has enlivened a London townhouse, transforming it with a bright and airy design approach. The traditional London townhouse has some issues with its thermal performance, and with the client, we were determined to address them through this refurbishment.
As energy costs continue to rise, the project is an opportunity to reevaluate the house's thermal efficiency and steer clear of relying on a gas boiler to provide an alternative energy solution. The air source heat pump is an increasingly viable option for a large townhouse. Concealed to the front of the house it is discreetly located below street level.
Their day to day life is a spacious open plan lower ground floor, centred around a Danish made kitchen. The space has been dramatically transformed into a stunning double-height space which is a little unexpected in a terraced house.
A new mezzanine space leads to a unique metal staircase to provide a new route into the space from the conventional stairwell which still serves the upper floors. This bold architectural move creates a sense of openness and celebration which leads down to the kitchen and onto the dining room within the rear garden extension.
The rear garden extension features a highly insulated timber framed construction under a pyramidal roof form which is then enclosed in distinctive turquoise copper coloured steel cladding which retains an environmental product declaration (EPD) for recycling and reuse.
A large glazed skylight formed by exposed timber rafters lead to the apex of the roof. As a result natural daylight floods in to the rear of the house greatly enhancing daylight throughout the day.
Addressing the challenge of maintaining warmth in the double-height space, the principles of underfloor heating are applied to the double-height wall adjacent to the mezzanine stair. The wall heating ensures even heat distribution throughout the double height volume room and reduces the effects of warmth escaping to the upper levels.
The rear extension's design is mirrored in a garden studio, creating a cohesive and sustainable working environment.
The top floor now incorporates a larger dormer roof conversion to the rear. Improved insulation levels have been applied throughout the house to reduce solar gain in summer and retain heat in winter. A series of solar PV panels on the dormer roof contribute to the home’s sustainable energy strategy, reducing its reliance on the electricity grid.
Location
This innovative and eco-friendly refurbishment is located in Stoke Newington, Hackney, offering a glimpse of the potential future proofing to the traditional London townhouse for the future of sustainable urban living.
