Solution
The first idea was to design a separate new building to replace the old garage. But it eventually became clear that in order to make that big enough for more than a single flat, it would get unhealthily close to the Victorian building with the takeaway, which our clients also owned.
It’s vital that both developers and architects are smart enough not to be stubborn. Although we had put months of hard work into the first design concept, we realised that it wasn’t working. Instead, taking a lead from several interesting recent developments in the neighbourhood, we switched from a separate building to a large extension. This involved demolishing part of a roof of the rear part of the existing building, and produced an interesting design.
The old flat above the takeaway had no outdoor space - now, with the addition of dormers, there would be two flats at the front, both with terraces. Then, in the new extension, there would be two flats, again, both with outdoor space. So the site would go from one flat to four, all under five minutes away from a tube station.
And it would all look much better too - the tatty old garage replaced by the well-designed extension with interesting levels and details.