Mezzanine Refurbishment with ASHP | Architects in Hackney

Our latest Stoke Newington townhouse refurbishment makes some smart moves as well as a dramatic one. The existing rear extension, built a decade ago, was perfectly good-so rather than knocking it down and starting again, we worked with it. The dramatic intervention was removal of the first floor room for a  new timber mezzanine added above the new rear lounge. A modest single-storey space is transformed into a generous double-height room. The exposed timber structure sits in a dynamic diagonal providing a fine aspect from the new mezzanine office space.

The ground floor plan has been completely reorganised around how the family actually lives. The kitchen now sits at the centre of the plan-for day to day living-while the dining room moves to the front bay window, overlooking the street. It is an arrangement that feels both practical and sociable. To open the ground floor up fully, a residential sprinkler system was installed throughout the ground and first floor mezzanine level. This allowed the stairwell walls to be removed entirely, connecting kitchen, dining and living into one bright and airy space.

Heating the house without gas was a core ambition from the start. An Air Source Heat Pump now serves as the primary heat source, extracting warmth from outside air to heat the home and its hot water. The existing walls have been insulated to help the system run as efficiently as possible. A DEFRA-approved wood-burning stove provides a focal point to the new lounge and a different kind of warmth on the coldest evenings-not replacing the heat pump, but complementing it. With rising summer temperatures making comfort cooling increasingly necessary, air conditioning has also been added.

A south-facing aspect is a genuine asset for the energy efficiency of the house, though it does need managing solar gain; a number of shading measures have been incorporated in the form of awnings and electrical window roller blinds.

A brand new whole basement, has been added below the existing footprint.  Finished in a striking bright orange rubber flooring it provides a dedicated gym and climbing wall. The challenge here was however significant: the main sewer connection ran directly beneath the building, which could have ruled the whole idea out. Instead, the sewer was redirected to ensure the basement remained fully useable.

The basement also provided essential space for the ASHP and solar panel and  battery storage apparatus. The solar panels sit on the existing dormer roof, generating electricity that feeds back into running the heat pump and charging the battery store. Energy captured during the day is not wasted when the sun goes down. It is a system that rewards the investment over time and reduces the household’s reliance on the grid in a meaningful way.

Air Source Heat Pump Townhouse | Springdale | Architects in Hackney

No Side Extension | Fortnam | Architects in Islington

Townhouse powered by an Air Source Heat Pump | Architects in Hackney

Our latest full house refurbishment is a London townhouse powered by an Air Source Heat Pump. The clients are excited about their newly enlivened London townhouse in Stoke Newington.  With rising energy costs, this project offered a chance to improve the house’s thermal efficiency and avoid using a gas boiler to heat the house and the water. The goal is to make the house as energy-efficient as possible and the client was keen to have as much natural daylight to the rear of the house.

The main living area features a large, open-plan lower ground floor with a bright, airy kitchen, dining room, and lounge. In a bold architectural move, the kitchen and dining room have been transformed into a stunning double-height space. This dramatic alteration was achieved by removing an entire room from the ground floor, creating a sense of openness not typical to the typical terraced house. 

A new mezzanine stair leads to the kitchen and rear garden extension which features a distinctive pyramidal roof. A turquoise steel cladding is used to provide a vibrant wrap a highly insulated timber framed construction. The insulation to the house is increased to the highest certified thickness without losing floor space.

The large glazed top light in the roof floods the space with natural light, significantly improving daylight levels at the back of the house.

High wall insulation and a new underfloor heating system support an Air Source Heat Pump, reducing reliance on gas. The removal of part of the ground floor posed a challenge for the air source heat pump and underfloor heating system on the lower level. To address this, the principles of underfloor heating was applied to the double-height wall. A low pressure wall heating system was concealed within the wall. This ensures that the entire room remains comfortably warm without heat being drawn upstairs.

The commitment to energy efficiency extends to the garden studio, which mirrors the construction of the rear extension. This cohesive approach ensures that all new elements of the home blend seamlessly with the main house and contribute to a more sustainable living environment.

The top floor now has a new larger dormer roof conversion with significantly improved insulation levels to reduce solar gain and retain heat in the winter . Each bedroom has custom wardrobes occupying the inclined space to roof void. To reduce their reliance on electricity, solar PV panels have been mounted on the large dormer roof conversion. These panels contribute to the sustainable energy strategy and lessen the environmental impact of the house as a whole.

Photography by Fred Howarth

Conservation Area Townhouse | Gladstone | Architects in Southwark

Garden Room Extension | Woolstone | Architects in Lewisham

Not! Another Side Extension | Architects in Islington

^{A distinctly retro style informs a garden pergola extension to a terraced house in Newham, East London.}

forresterarchitects have completed a distinctly retro style garden pergola extension to a terraced house in East London.

With no houses to the rear of the property the south facing aspect is prefect for the client and the new garden pergola extension is perfectly orientated. It enjoys sunshine from the early morning sunrise through to the late evening travelling almost uninterrupted across the sky, with just unrivalled views of the sky and the City of London beyond.

An inclined exposed roof structure informs the interior and extends outside to form a garden pergola to the South-facing terrace. As well as providing a passive solar shading device to the interior the rafters create a wonderful shaded terrace overlooking the garden. A slight offset to the rafter lines informs the pergola extension orientation to shade the interior from the sun path, which align with the wide boarded engineered timber floorboards to provide a visually interesting interior. The client’s character informs the interior of the pergola extension distinctly retro style with a touch of the Scandinavian influence complimenting a way of living, pairing its minimalist form with affordability. Add to that distinctive mid-century modernist furniture provides simple lines and natural materials to offer natural warmth across the interior. The main house remains distinctly traditional retaining the colour palette and architectural detailing of a by gone era. To the entrance reception the mosaic tiled floor provides a muted perimeter pattern, which defines the extent of the refurbishment. A timber-paneled bathroom, in a verdant green, provides the littlest room with a touch of calm and contemplation after a busy day in the City.

A far cry from the large, cold and draughty 1970’s conservatory space which it replaced.

Grange Refurbishment | Coverdale | Yorkshire Dales

Conservation Area Townhouse | Gladstone | Architects in Southwark