*Project completed while working at Cooke Fawcett Architects.
Tollington Park
Extensive additions to a family home, creating improved living accommodation and dedicated work-from-home space. The original house, built in the early 2000s, had compact living areas and subterranean bedrooms. The proposal introduced a ground-floor extension and a new upper volume, both of which received planning approval on a sensitive site.
The form of the additions follows the cubic geometry of the existing house while expressing the new elements as two distinct volumes. A range of external materials was explored to strike a balance between contrast and continuity. The existing building combines white render with zinc and galvanised steel, and options were tested both to complement this palette and to introduce subtle contrast, such as warm timber cladding, creating a dialogue between old and new.
The side extension replaces a former terrace, making it essential that the new rooms establish a seamless connection to the re-formed external terrace. A window seat and large glazed doors offer views and encourage the living spaces to spill naturally into the exterior.
Integrating the stair within this new volume required careful coordination with the existing structure. By incorporating storage into the stair and refining its proportions, the design maintains a sense of lightness and openness when viewed from the living room.
The first-floor home office is deliberately separate and private, overlooking the garden to create a calm environment for focused work. A skylight above the stairwell brings natural light down to both the office and the level below, improving daylight throughout the house. The space is flexible, able to function as a guest bedroom when required.
