THE BLOG

27
Jan

A series of staggered volumes capture views of light and sky.

Posted by / Refurbishment

Staggered Extension | Architect for Walthamstow | East London

My clients love their little-terraced house in Walthamstow but it’s dark. An existing extension is located to the back of the house and provides the house with its only bathroom. This bathroom but cuts off light and view of the garden. The kitchen and dining room are almost like rooms within rooms. Our first move is to knock down the extension and provide series of extruded volumes aim to capture light and views of the sky. The family bathroom is moved to the first floor next to the bedrooms. And a loft dormer is added for guests with its very own ensuite.

07
Dec

Our Conservation Area house refurbishment features in Don’t Move, Improve!

Posted by / Listed Buildings & Conservation

Don’t Move Improve | Architects for Belsize Park | Camden, North London

A new rear extension and house refurbishment in North West London improves a fine semi-detached house in Belsize Park. A series of angled facets reconnects the rear extension with the garden to give a unique architectural solution. As with most Victorian houses, the kitchen is too small for a house of this size. Only a modest kitchen sink window the offers a glimpse of the glorious gardens beyond. The client wanted the house to feel better connected to the garden. The extension is expressed as series of solid and void angled facets. They have been used to set up a notional hierarchy to give a level of transparency between the house and garden. The kitchen enjoys a longer footprint with a frameless window to give views across the neighbouring gardens. Exposed timber joists incorporate low energy strip lighting across the kitchen.

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03
Nov

An inside-outside garden extension.

Posted by / Extensions & Conversions

Garden Room | Architects for South London | Forrester Architects

We’re bringing the garden in from the cold. Our client’s love of their long mature garden has resulted in an innovative garden room design proposal. The original London brickwork facade will undulate along its length to bring the garden into the new kitchen and dining room space. The undulating form provides glimpses of the garden in all directions along its length and results in a fine garden room.

08
Oct

A new-build house near Hampstead Village.

Posted by / New Build

New Build House | Architects for North West London | Forrester Architects

We’re looking into a new build house solution for a current client. There is already a house on the plot but it is considered by Camden Planning of no architectural merit. It will be demolished. In its place a new open plan house of approximately 3000sq/ft. Near to Hampstead Village, the house will be set within the local conservation area. Our client is keen to avoid over developing the site and the house will not be overbearing scale and massing. The street facade will present a masonry frontage to complement the traditional context. To the rear, the garden is South facing and a sustainable energy strategy will be adopted to make the most of its perfect aspect.

09
Sep

Ground source heat from an English country garden.

Posted by / New Build

English Country House | Architects for South Bucks | Forrester Architects

We’re working on a new build seven bedroom English country house for a young family in South Buckinghamshire. The client has adopted a renewable energy strategy for the house, swimming pool and car garage. To the rear ground source heating, solar PV and solar thermal provision are integrated into the house design and garden. It is traditional in every detail but modern in outlook.

 

12
Aug

A view from our new loft space in South London.

Posted by / Listed Buildings & Conservation

New Loft Office | Architects for South London | Bermondsey

We’ve moved into a new loft style penthouse office in Bermondsey. With all sorts of exciting opportunities to look forward to we share our space with interior designer Callender Howorth. The former tannery is going through an extensive but sensitive refurbishment. The exposed beam ceiling and timber floors remain, as do the steel framed windows but it’s a very considered redevelopment.

 

01
Jul

A peek over the parapet.

Posted by / Extensions & Conversions

Infill Parapet Extension | Architecture for Tufnell Park | Islington

A new infill extension to a townhouse in Tufnell Park, Islington takes a sneaky peek over the parapet wall to catch the setting sun. The extension is set within a fine mature garden. The new kitchen has been relocated to frame views of the garden. To the West the sun setting is framed with a high level skylight which catches the warm setting sun.

25
Jun

A Grange in Yorkshire with a sustainable future.

Posted by / Listed Buildings & Conservation

Sustainable Grange | Architects for Leyburn | Yorkshire Dales

A traditional Grange and barn in Yorkshire has been neglected for many years. The new owners are very excited by their find; an extensive refurbishment will be necessary. Its location and off grid status makes a sustainable heat strategy the most viable solution for the future. Set within remote farmland it will provide ground source heat as the most cost effective solution for a self-sufficiency. The house has some wonderful features with exposed timber beams, a stone tiled roof and half a metre thick solid walls all to be retained as original. The character of the house will be complimented by a full house refurbishment and insulating the property is a priority. The barn will be used by the boys as a bunk room and will function away from the house.

13
May

Avoid the conventional and there is no Downside!

Posted by / Refurbishment

House Refurbishment  | Architecture for Camden | Belsize Park, North West London

The fine semi-detached Villa’s of Belsize Park, North London are close built houses. Separated by only the small side passages between the houses. Only the neighbouring houses form a boundary to the gardens, which are long, wide and mature in foliage. This is the setting for our latest full house refurbishment. The client wanted the house to feel better connected to the garden.
 
An accordion arrangement is explored as a concept for the extension. A series of angled facets have been used to establish a notional hierarchy to the kitchen. Expressed as solid and void walls the facets provide a level of transparency and privacy between the house and garden. The staggered configuration of the extension creates framed views of the garden and a unique architectural solution. For an extension it avoids the uninspired full width house extension. The shift in geometry allows the extension to reveal a series of layered materials to reach out and touch the garden. All contained beneath the asymmetrical roof form. The roof is formed in timber and painted with a special Swedish preservative paint treatment. It produces a beautiful matt red finish. The roof projects beyond the building edge to provide a simple solar shading device to south facing aspect of the extension.
07
Apr

Not the only way to do a dormer conversion…

Posted by / Extensions & Conversions

Dormer Conversion | Architects for Essex | Hornchurch, Romford

forresterarchitects are nearing the end of the complete rebuilding of a semi-detached house in Hornchurch, Essex. An alternative design to a new dormer conversion complete with 6m extension and house refurbishment in the heart of Essex. The house has been planned around a new stairwell which has been repositioned to serve a new floor added to the top of the house. Every room has been reconfigured and the floor plan is now much more efficient. The energy efficiency of the house has been improved with new double glazed units replacing all single glazed windows.  At 6m deep, a larger than normal extension has also been granted planning permission to the rear and provides an open plan arrangement.

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Studio 34, London N16 0SA
Tel: 020 7683 7372
info@forresterarchitects.com
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Commercial New Build Refurbishment Interior Design Extensions & Conversions Listed Buildings & Conservation