Room for Growth: contemporary extension design ideas
We were recently shown around Christopher Sanderson and Martin Raymond’s remodelled 1950s house in Shingle Street, Suffolk, which they extended to a design by architects Caswell Bank. Feeling inspired, we’ve had a look through our properties currently for sale in search of some contemporary extension design ideas of our own.
Mottingham Lane, London SE9
One of the obstacles when extending a property is the danger of the addition appearing as a ‘bolted on’ protrusion. How do you create continuity between the two parts? At Mottingham Lane, the answer has been to lay large-format slate tiling across the original 1960s ground floor, and into the expansive open-plan kitchen, dining room and living room.
Stanhope Gardens, London N16
Old meets new in pleasing juxtaposition at this six-bedroom home in Highgate. Award-winning architects Spacelab thought up the contemporary zinc-clad extension, which encompasses a bright living space at the back of the house. Here, a modern kitchen, dining area and reception space are framed by full-height glazed doors, which give access to a landscaped garden.
Farleigh Road, London N16
This three-bedroom house on a quiet residential street near Stoke Newington was extended by its chef-owner to a design by ZCD Architects. “Our response was a carefully considered extension into the side and the rear, which wraps around the existing rear volume of the house. This existing volume is allowed to ‘hover’ into the new space,” said the late architect Zoe Smith of the considered and unobtrusive project.
Dale Street, London W4
Architectural design company Hamilton King are behind this studied renovation to a four-bedroom house near Chiswick Common. A roof light that drops at the far end to become a glazed corner of the kitchen demonstrates the ability of glass to open up a space, and to draw the outside inwards.
Killowen Road, London E9
Contemporary extension design ideas are often about adapting out-dated spatial arrangements into spaces that better facilitate modern living, as is the case at Killowen Road. Born Design agency and architect Martyn Clarke worked to repurpose the townhouse in central Hackney, with a kitchen and dining room on the lower-ground level. A bespoke kitchen island provides a beautiful focal point to the sociable space.
Park Road, London NW10
Storp Weber Architecture was enlisted to come up with the contemporary extension design ideas at this six-bedroom house in Harlesden. The result of their work is a two-storey extension, comprising a kitchen, studio annexe and two upstairs bedrooms. At the rear, decking extends the length of the extended portion, which is clad in the same material, providing a sense of aesthetic continuity.
Slim House, London SW11
A clever, economical extension by Alma-nac architects added a room to each level of this house in Clapham, which has an overall width of 2.3 metres. The project has been celebrated for its impressive spatial design, featuring on Grand Designs and winning The Architects’ Journal Award for innovative extensions in 2013.
Read more: My Modern House: Chris Sanderson and Martin Raymond’s seaside retreat in Suffolk
Space and the City: six London homes that maximise space
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