House extensions

This house is a Victorian large single family dwelling situated in Hackney. The client approached us to work on the project and were involved within the creative industries themselves as founders of Studio XAG. From the very beginning, the project was about refurbishing and extending the house whilst injecting the Clients creative personalities as designers and makers themselves. Adam Scott Photography   The building had fallen into a state of disrepair and was in need of full refurbishment. Works included a loft, rear and side infill extension. A set of living spaces at lower ground floor level were used as additional accommodation for visiting family, it was important for these to be connected to the main house above. The desi... More

A pair of unadorned, utilitarian zinc boxes sit on top of two late 20th century homes in Hackney, inspired by local light industry. Designed as low-cost and low-impact house extensions, the sloped structures follow the exact roofline of the existing buildings and belie the more intricate interior spaces within. The project has been designed inside out to provide the owners of each property with a new bedroom, shower & WC to relieve pressure on the houses below, which fit within a pragmatic envelope defined by planning constraints.   The emphasis for this project is a series of highly detailed, minimalist rooms which feature robust materials chosen for their longevity. The new bedroom is lined on all vertical and floor surfaces with Doug... More

Island Cottage is an existing dwelling constructed in 1830, in a conservation area at the southern limit of Sidlesham Quay village, West Sussex. The property was highlighted by the local authority as a key example of rural vernacular character for homes in the area, but is also sited in a major flood risk area. Such a precarious context therefore demanded a considered approach, however the original building had been extended over many years mostly with insensitive and cumbersome extensions and additions.Athena and Mark purchased Island Cottage in 2015. They had a strong sense of belonging to the area, as both had childhood memories of visiting Pagham Harbour and were greatly drawn to live on the South Coast after many years w... More

Located on a quiet side street in Brunswick, Allan Street House is a renovation and extension of an existing worker’s cottage for a young couple and their two small children.The project explores the idea of what a Brunswick worker’s cottage is and the lifestyle that it can offer a growing family. The central location, connection to parks, and acceptance that in Inner Melbourne it’s okay to not have a big backyard were guiding factors.Allan Street house transforms the experience of a pokey terrace house into a home that is light and open, sustainably designed and adaptable to the daily routines of a young family.Who was the design for?A young couple with their two young children. They came to us with relatively modest requirements, partly du... More

There was a recent article in Building Design magazine which drew a contrast between the fashion industry and the Architectural profession. The magazine is only available to subscribers but the article goes like this; The fashion industry has worked hard over time to offer well designed goods to suit every budget, but contemporary Architecture is still so expensive that it remains the preserve of an elite minority. As the cost of fashionable clothes have fallen over recent decades, so more people have been able to afford them. If Architects could reduce construction costs, then more people would commission contemporary Architecture and everyone would benifit. There is a degree of truth to this but also some dishonesty, for example the... More