A small addition in square metres doesn’t tell the real story of the dramatic, light-centred reimagining of this London Docklands home

Challenge

Our clients already had planning permission for a rear extension, but quickly realised it wouldn't deliver the light they craved, the open kitchen they needed, or the better entrance they wanted. So, they scrapped their approved plans and sought a more collaborative relationship with architects who would prioritise their needs and place great value on interior design. Us!

Approach

A pre-application meeting with the council allowed us to make some small changes to keep the design in line with policies, but largely the planning department was happy with what we were doing, and followed up by granting planning permission when we submitted our application.

Our proposal was to demolish the conservatory and extend into the side passage, incorporating long skylights to brighten the ground floor and to redesign the entrance for better functionality. This included creating a spacious kitchen and a more comfortable ground-floor shower room.

Solution

When you factor in the unloved conservatory we were removing, our changes only amounted to a net addition of 2 sqm. But the impact on the feel of the house was truly dramatic. Not much bigger, but emphatically better.