#retrofit

Project • By Felix Lewis Architecture and Interiors • Offices

The Works

Tucked along the banks of the River Medway in East Farleigh, Kent, stands a striking reminder of Victorian engineering and architectural eclecticism. Built in 1860 by James Pilbrow, this Grade II-listed boiler house is a rare example of Egyptian Revival architecture in Britain – a style that flourished briefly in the mid-nineteenth century, when fascination with the temples of Karnak, Luxor and Edfu – particularly the Temple of Horus – inspired civic and industrial buildings across the country. Once crowned by an extraordinary obelisk chimney, now long vanished, the building had endured decades of change and underuse. Today, through a bold yet sensitive design by Felix Lewis Architecture & Interiors, it has been reimag... More

Project • By Luis Trevino Architects • Private Houses

The Pavilion

The Pavilion sits within a large estate and began life as a decorative folly before being adapted into a residence. Over time, a poorly conceived mid-century extension compromised both the appearance and function of the original Grade II listed rotunda. The client’s brief was clear: restore the Pavilion’s architectural integrity while expanding the home to meet contemporary needs, without undermining its heritage value. Rather than approaching the project as a simple removal and replacement exercise, the design team saw an opportunity to repair the damage caused by previous interventions and introduce a confident yet restrained new extension. The aim was to allow the historic structure to regain prominence while supporting moder... More

French and Tye

Project • By Polysmiths • Private Houses

Walden

A full extension of a basement terraced house, with interior renovation and refurbishment to a high standard. French and Tye French and Tye Polysmiths was appointed by a private client to undertake a rear extension and full interior renovation and refurbishment of a 2-bedroom apartment flat in Kentish Town, Camden London. French and Tye French and Tye Climate Change means that, according to the Mayor of London, at least 200,000 properties in London alone are at risk of surface water flooding, most are residential basement flats. French and Tye French and Tye Polysmiths seeks to redefine the basement home renovations, breathing new life into a 2-bedroom basement apartment in North London – a space that... More

Stale Eriksen

Project • By Proctor & Shaw • Private Houses

Dulwich House

A refined seasonal relationship of home to garden now exploits the amazing elevated park views and wonderful westerly sunlight. The ground floor is reconfigured and extended to provide a series of ‘broken-plan’ family spaces whose architecture is defined with a series of conceptually simple, but technically complex, robust columns and beams. Stale Eriksen Stale Eriksen Stale Eriksen Stale Eriksen Stale Eriksen Three sequential spaces are created, a back kitchen and garden boot room, a kitchen and dining zone, and a living space, all connected to a 5m deep terrace through a variety of glazed openings, shaded by the fair-faced concrete full-width lintel above. Internal and external spaces have been... More

The reconfigured hearth in this project is made of bricks from the previous obsolete baker oven, retaining its oversized mass as the focal point of the room whilst at the same time adding functions

Max Creasy

Eastern elevation with a new door into the kitchen. The project transforms an uninsulated dark space into a residence whilst adhering to strict local heritage restrictions.

View from the kitchen towards the hearth with the concrete stairs that ascend to the first floor.

The scale of the new hearth echoes the scale of the baker oven that previously stood in its place. The large windows at either side of the hearth frame it as a free-standing object in the room.

As a sculptural piece the concrete, masonry and steel construction avoid touching the floorboards of the upper floor but gently guides the inhabitant to the bedrooms in the attic.‍

Project • By Kastler Skjeseth Architects • Private Houses

Hearth House

The project transforms a small eighteenth-century storehouse into a modern dwelling, blending restoration with contemporary design. The original three main facades are preserved while leveraging necessary repairs to introduce a new north-facing wall for indirect sunlight and modern amenities. Max Creasy Max Creasy Max Creasy Localized interventions compact all necessary new functions, making the building fit for inhabitation while maintaining historical integrity. Additionally, a reconfigured hearth, crafted out of reused bricks from the derelict baker oven, remains a focal point, marrying functionality with historical significance. The industrial aesthetic of the interior reflects the building's original utilitarian functio... More