Seals Road 2
In a conservation area of central London a sheltered end-of-terrace side garden was underused, while space within the house was needed.
This project began with a clear brief to extend the kitchen and dining space into the garden to benefit from the position under nearby trees and to maintain the existing trees on the site. The space was required to house a dining table and crucially, should provide a private space for the family Peloton bike, which would need to be accessible, but at times not seen.
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Constrained by the boundary of the site being triangular and having surveyed where the existing trees were exactly, the design evolved for an extension that would create two courtyards for the existing trees. Tucked beside the boundary wall the extension is effectively a lean-to structure with a footprint that is triangular, creating a roof that seems to curve around the original house, opening up to the sky but also nestled into place.
The project has created exactly what was asked, the kitchen can now be lived-in while the dining is comparatively spacious and charming. What was a rarely used part of the garden is now a well-used and much-loved part of the home.
Shou Sugi Ban burned timber cladding reduces the visual impact of the the extension and emphasises the vertical as it chamfers down to meet, without touching, the garden boundary wall.
The new space functions as both a gallery for a considered collection of furniture, art and sculpture, and a versatile place incorporating dining, garden and Peloton space. The floor finish and skirting details are as those found elsewhere in the house, creating a natural sense of continuity and cohesion. At the same time, the space has its own distinct character as a quiet retreat within the home.
Design, Planning Permission, Budget Assistance, Site works, Building Control Certification, Contractor Selection and Building Contract Advice — LeilaDunnning Projects
Structural Engineer — Public House
Building Control — Stroma Building Control
Main Contractor — Powerday
Specialist Rooflight — LGR Glazing
Photographer — Simon Kennedy