The client acquired the property with the understanding that a number of design shortcomings could be addressed in the future. After several years of adapting to the limitations of the existing layout, they sought a comprehensive solution to better support modern family life and improve overall functionality.

A key challenge was the existing bathroom arrangement, which, due to the age and evolution of the property, had been retrofitted as a first-floor extension to one of the bedrooms—an arrangement that was neither ideal nor in keeping with contemporary standards of privacy and spatial efficiency.

Similarly, the kitchen, while full of historic charm, consisted of a series of narrow, disconnected corridor-like spaces. It was separated from the adjacent dining room and remote from the main living areas. Having previously lived in a 1930s home with an open-plan ground floor, the client found the compartmentalised layout of their current home incompatible with their family’s day-to-day interactions, especially during the busy after-school hours when family members would often find themselves isolated in different rooms.

The layout of the existing annex also failed to provide a cohesive or functional living environment.

In response, our proposal includes a substantial rear extension designed to unify the kitchen, dining, and family living spaces into a generous, open-plan arrangement. This not only encourages greater family interaction but also brings clarity and flow to the previously fragmented layout. The architectural expression of the extension is a contemporary interpretation of the original Victorian house, using carefully selected complementary brickwork to ensure coherence with the existing structure. Internally, the design draws inspiration from the traditional Victorian scullery, reimagined with a modern sensibility.