Bronte House

This project was to enable a family to thoroughly enjoy their London location by adding a bedroom and reclaiming unused garden. The works have transformed the house into a crisp bright and liveable home inspired by the client’s time in Bronte Beach, Australia.

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The rear ground floor wrap-around extension uses the chamfered site boundary and planning restrictions on its height, to create what feels like a vaulted space for kitchen dining and play.

Here rooflights are arranged for privacy and a quiet and secluded feeling, despite being tightly nestled between neighbours. An integrated blind on the largest rooflight creates an incredible tranquillity on sunny days.

The renovation carves new space and repurposes existing — the ground floor now gives cloakroom and shower room accessed, a spacious utility room, and a far better connection to the garden.

The renovation makes every moment in the house a pleasure.

The the new stair of pale waxed filters endlessly changing natural light from above.

A wildflower roof at first floor provides for both biodiversity and an eye-level view from the bathroom.

An attic bedroom is formed with the existing original inclined roof so that where the original and new geometries meet they create a natural opening. Here a vast and seemingly frameless trapezoid rooflight marries the house with the sky, the crisp finish of the interior heightens the sense of awe.

The house backs onto neighbouring gardens and where terraces create a block they trap summer heat. This new extension was in danger of overheating, so ventilation was considered key. Electric opening roof lights ensure the new kitchen space is airy and another at the top of the house, draws warm air away.

Design, Planning, Budget Assistance & Contract Administrator — LeilaDunnning Projects

Structural Engineer — SD Structures

Building Control — Quadrant AI

Main Contractor — CBros Construction / Building Design Limited

Kitchen and Joinery — CBros Joinery

Specialist Rooflight — LGR Glazing

Photographer — Simon Kennedy