Tag: Camden

11
Feb

Concert Room to a duplex loft refurbishment

Concert Room Loft | Architects for Hampstead | forrester architects

A newly acquired duplex loft apartment provides the setting for a new concert room loft in North London. An extensive refurbishment involves remodelling the entire space to provide a personal venue for concerts and recitals. The double height gabled roof-space will be enlivened by revealing the existing king post trusses which provide a striking architectural back-drop to the main room. A curved open treaded stair leads from the mezzanine bar area which overlooks the concert room. Beyond the mezzanine, there is of course a green room for the guest performers. A number of ancillary spaces provide for food preparation and an extensive wine cellar to entertain.

13
Oct

A double-storey extension is proposed to West Hampstead garden

Two Storey Garden Extension | Architects for Camden | West Hampstead, London

forresterarchitects has proposed a two-storey rear extension to replace an inadequate existing extension in a West Hampstead maisonette. The new design aims to rationalize the hierarchy of the maisonette by placing living rooms on the raised ground floor and bedrooms on the lower ground floor. In planning terms, the proposed extension has been designed according to the 45-degree rule, which aims to prevent the loss of daylight to neighbouring properties, avoid excessive overshadowing of gardens and preserve a reasonable standard of outlook.

The new extension will be designed to meet the needs of modern living and provide a larger, more functional space for the client. By improving the layout, the new design will allow for more natural light to enter the living spaces, creating a brighter and more comfortable environment. In addition to improving the living spaces, the extension will also be designed to complement the existing architecture of the maisonette. The materials and finishes used will be carefully selected to ensure that they match the existing building and enhance its overall aesthetic appeal. 

The proposed extension will be constructed with a focus on sustainability, with materials selected for their environmental impact and energy-efficient technologies used throughout the building. This approach will not only reduce the environmental impact of the project but also result in lower energy bills for the homeowners.

 

05
Jul

Add an artist’s studio as ancillary accommodation to your garden flat.

Ancillary Garden Studio | Architects for Camden | Camden Square Conservation Area

A modest rear extension needs some consideration due to its wonderful south facing aspect. During the best of weather the existing extension is unbearable and over exposed . A considered architectural solution is essential. An ancillary garden studio is proposed. Simple in form, the new roof is articulated to deflect direct sunlight. The exposed timber structure supporting the roof extends onto the external garden terrace to provide an integrated garden pergola structure. The passive solar shading is complimented further, over time, the pergola will be draped in foliage to provides further layering to the rich composition of the facade.

17
May

Two neighbours add a roof top extension to double the area of their maisonette.

Roof Top Extension  | Architects for Camden | Camden Square Conservation Area

The owners of the top floor flats to Cliff Road, together, aim to improve the quality of the existing housing stock. A new roof extension is proposed to the existing flat roof terrace. It provides bright and airy living rooms to the new roof space. Each flat currently provides one bedroom accommodation. Both flats, as part of the planning submission, will carry out a full refurbishment as part of the works as each property requires modernisation. Both flats will be modestly reconfigured to improve the accommodation and sanitary provision.

11
Aug

A blue steel truss mezzanine transforms a single storey cottage refurbishment.

Blue Steel Mezzanine | Architects for Camden | Highgate, North West London

A small cottage in our client’s garden was under utilised but held great potential; that potential has now been realised. A new blue steel mezzanine has been inserted to run the length of the cottage to provide a significant increase in usable floor area. The cottage interior has enlivened to provide a simple but bold stand-alone accommodation for the in-laws. When the cottage is not being used by guests it retains the flexibility to provide a study area for the client’s daughters. Or in the evening it can be used as a party venue following dinner parties or where everyone can watch a film. To assist in the flexibility of space clever joinery will be incorporated to conceal the beds when they are not in use.

07
Apr

A new double height art gallery forms a new focal point to a townhouse refurbishment.

Gallery for a House | Architects for Belsize Park | Camden, North London

A gallery for a house forms part of the brief to a new full house refurbishment in Belsize Park, London. The house is tired but retains some interesting period features to the wall frieze and ceilings. It does need to be extended to provide an appropriate level of accommodation for entertaining. A key need of the brief is to provide an art gallery for the client and it seems a double height space to the rear of the house is well suited. The rear elevation aims to reconnect the house with the garden and provide a unique architectural solution.
 
To the top of the house, the windows are under-sized and the bedroom spaces seem a secondary consideration. We aim to open the roof space to provide a modern loft style environment for the children. The master bedroom will occupy the first floor in its entirety with a new bathroom, dressing room and study with great views over the city of London.
27
Mar

A mezzanine loft is added to a Belsize Park townhouse roof space.

Townhouse Mezzanine  | Architects for Camden | Belsize Park, North West London

To the top of a fine detached house in Belsize Park, the windows are under-sized and the bedroom spaces seem a secondary consideration; it was likely to be accommodation for house staff. Through a number of feasibility studies, we have highlighted the potential to provide an additional floor within the loft space. Our intention is to open the roof space and provide a modern loft style environment. This will provide a more enlivened environment for the children’s bedrooms. The ceiling to each bedroom is sculpted to form a void created between the mezzanine. A new loft stair will provide a feature to the new open-plan loft room with the mezzanine structure will be incorporated into the existing roof structure.
07
Dec

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

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

Don’t Move Improve. 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 gardenThe 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 kitche

08
Oct

A new-build house near Hampstead Village.

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.

13
May

Avoid the conventional and there is no Downside!

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

The fine semi-detached Villa’s of Belsize Park, North West London is in a wonderful setting. 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 gardenThe staggered configuration of the extension creates framed views of the garden and a unique architectural solution. See four new build houses realised to an inner city brownfield site.
The innovative design avoids the usual full width house extensionThe 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.