Location : Hackney, UK
Client : Private
Year : 2019-2020
Area : 150 sq.m
stage : Under construction
Project description
Elmbank House
Rear Extension
Elmbank House
Rear Extension
Elmbank House
Rear Extension
Elmbank House
Rear Extension
The property is a Victorian mid-terraced, two storey, 3 bed room house, Built in rick work which form an 'M’ type butterfly roof .
The property consists of an L shaped footprint with along two storey projected rear building. The house is very narrow and internal walls block the flow of move and light and there was limited access to the garden.
The owner wishes to improve the property by erecting a roof extension at second floor level in the shape of a mansard and to have a side return in the form of ‘lean-to-roof’ at ground level along the rear projected wing.
A large open plan living space was created by opening up the front and rear reception rooms with new side infill space, providing ample living and family gathering space for our client’s young child and unborn baby.
A fully glazed skylight to the side extension allows for increased light levels and improved connections between the spaces linking the front of the house to the rear garden with side bench seating area along the new frank wall.
To rear facade, A large glass pivoting window enables people can seat from in and out of the house enjoying reading and dinning.
A calm material palette of reclaimed bricks and oak flooring gives a sense of warmth and texture to the home.
The rich detailing gives a tactile scale to the new domestic spaces.
Rushmore house-2
Loft extension, rear side infill and internal refurbishment
Location : Hackney, UK
Client : Private
Year : 2019-2020
Area : 150 sq.m
stage : Under construction
Rushmore house-2
Loft extension, rear side infill and internal refurbishment
Location : Hackney, UK
Client : Private
Year : 2019-2020
Area : 150 sq.m
stage : Under construction
Rushmore house-2
Loft extension, rear side infill and internal refurbishment
Location : Hackney, UK
Client : Private
Year : 2019-2020
Area : 150 sq.m
stage : Under construction
Project description
Project description
The property is a Victorian mid-terraced, two storey, 3 bed room house, Built in rick work which form an 'M’ type butterfly roof .
The property consists of an L shaped footprint with along two storey projected rear building. The house is very narrow and internal walls block the flow of move and light and there was limited access to the garden.
The owner wishes to improve the property by erecting a roof extension at second floor level in the shape of a mansard and to have a side return in the form of ‘lean-to-roof’ at ground level along the rear projected wing.
A large open plan living space was created by opening up the front and rear reception rooms with new side infill space, providing ample living and family gathering space for our client’s young child and unborn baby.
A fully glazed skylight to the side extension allows for increased light levels and improved connections between the spaces linking the front of the house to the rear garden with side bench seating area along the new frank wall.
To rear facade, A large glass pivoting window enables people can seat from in and out of the house enjoying reading and dinning.
A calm material palette of reclaimed bricks and oak flooring gives a sense of warmth and texture to the home.
The rich detailing gives a tactile scale to the new domestic spaces.
Project description
The property is a Victorian mid-terraced, two storey, 3 bed room house, Built in rick work which form an 'M’ type butterfly roof .
The property consists of an L shaped footprint with along two storey projected rear building. The house is very narrow and internal walls block the flow of move and light and there was limited access to the garden.
The owner wishes to improve the property by erecting a roof extension at second floor level in the shape of a mansard and to have a side return in the form of ‘lean-to-roof’ at ground level along the rear projected wing.
A large open plan living space was created by opening up the front and rear reception rooms with new side infill space, providing ample living and family gathering space for our client’s young child and unborn baby.
A fully glazed skylight to the side extension allows for increased light levels and improved connections between the spaces linking the front of the house to the rear garden with side bench seating area along the new frank wall.
To rear facade, A large glass pivoting window enables people can seat from in and out of the house enjoying reading and dinning.
A calm material palette of reclaimed bricks and oak flooring gives a sense of warmth and texture to the home.
The rich detailing gives a tactile scale to the new domestic spaces.
The property is a Victorian mid-terraced, two storey, 3 bed room house, Built in rick work which form an 'M’ type butterfly roof .
The property consists of an L shaped footprint with along two storey projected rear building. The house is very narrow and internal walls block the flow of move and light and there was limited access to the garden.
The owner wishes to improve the property by erecting a roof extension at second floor level in the shape of a mansard and to have a side return in the form of ‘lean-to-roof’ at ground level along the rear projected wing.
A large open plan living space was created by opening up the front and rear reception rooms with new side infill space, providing ample living and family gathering space for our client’s young child and unborn baby.
A fully glazed skylight to the side extension allows for increased light levels and improved connections between the spaces linking the front of the house to the rear garden with side bench seating area along the new frank wall.
To rear facade, A large glass pivoting window enables people can seat from in and out of the house enjoying reading and dinning.
A calm material palette of reclaimed bricks and oak flooring gives a sense of warmth and texture to the home.
The rich detailing gives a tactile scale to the new domestic spaces.
The site comprises a two storey semi-detached dwelling located on the east side of Barton Green. The surrounding area is predominantly residential in character and appearance consisting mainly of semi-detached dwellings.
The owner sought to improve the property by erecting a single storey side and rear extension and loft conversion within the existing roof shape following the demolition of the existing side extension.
Lammas Road House
New build
Rushmore Road
House Extension
Rushmore Road
House Extension
Location : Richmond, UK
Client : Private
Year : 2017
Area :
stage : Planning stage
Sutton care homes
New build
Location : Sutton, Surrey, UK
Client : Private
Year : 2017
Area :
stage : Planning stage
Site context
Claremont Avenue
Rear Extension
Calvary Korean Church
A contemporary church shaped by community, light and connection
Location : Kingston, UK
Client : Private
Year : 2016-on going
Area : 350 sq.m
stage : Permission granted, detailed design completed
Project description
Calvary Korean Church is transformed into a contemporary and welcoming community space, building upon the existing pitched roof, courtyard and generous rear garden. A new flexible service hall forms the heart of the proposal, accommodating worship, meetings and community activities while opening directly towards the garden. Movable glazing and sliding doors allow the space to adapt between focused worship and larger social gatherings.
The existing foyer is opened towards the courtyard to improve daylight, accessibility and social interaction.
A new pitched roof responds sensitively to neighbouring residential properties, while dark yellow brick and roof tiles establish continuity with the existing building. A sedum roof introduces planting and connects the interior with the landscape. Timber, plaster and brick create a warm, tactile atmosphere throughout, bringing together worship, community, light and landscape within a flexible church for the future.
The service hall sits in the heart of the site which can be visually connected to main building on the right and massive rear garden on the left, so that it becomes the main hub for the church.
Space wise, it is a huge square volume of space, with an inclined ceiling from 3 meters to 5 meters of the highest.
Towards the rear garden, it has a big opening with two layers of movable glazing on the outer side, and sliding plywood door on the inner side. Towards the corridor, there is also a sliding door.
Understanding that this space needs to be flexible, the door can be closed for service purpose to reduce the noise, and after it finishes it can be opened again.
By doing so, it creates a bigger space that links the rear garden and courtyard with the main service hall.
Next to the main service hall is a storage to contain all the chairs and tables. Depends on the occasions, the furniture arrangements can be changed with ease.
For the convenience and welcoming front experience for all ages and disabled person, two entrances are provided.
The first entrance, in which the existing ramp is angled towards to main entrance and new stair is also built in front of main entrance door.
The second entrance is also designed through the side buildings, also with a ramp toward the door, leading to the well lit courtyard. This entrance can also act for a purpose of fire or emergency access.
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The space itself needed to be flexible in terms of usage,
meaning that it can be arranged not only as a serving space, but also another activity such as meeting, conference, or resting area. A good connection between the main entrance to the rear garden is also an important factor of this design, as it defines the clear interaction between outdoor and indoor space. Therefore, the existing rear building are converted into one main service hall which make the currently rear building to be big enough to accommodate the current church coming capacity of around 165~170 people. As for the internal refurbishment, parts of internal wall are removed from currently forming main service hall,
so that the current narrow and dark front foyer can be opened directly to the bright courtyard, creating welcoming social space which is important part of the church function.
In addition, the corridors can be widely opened for around 35 additional service seats.
Furthermore, the rear terrace garden can also be used for another 35 additional seats. In total, the main service hall provides in total of around 240 seats.
Surrounded by the residential houses and facing neighboring gardens from where proposed, the relationship of any building to its neighbor is important.
Hence the most important design concept to rear building should not adversely impact neighboring properties and this has formed the newly designed roof shape.
The inclining pitched roof from three sides of wall and converging to one higher point not only to design building as a church, but also to improve relationship to neighboring properties from the current faceless flat felt roof.
It creates spatial valley between new roof and the main volume of two storey building.
The outside wall is cladded in dark yellow brick matching existing wall and others well founded in the context.
Two pitched roof planes facing to neighboring properties is using roof tiles, matching existing roof colour at the main building.
In addition, central roof plane is covered in sedum planting creating another layer of garden space at the first floor level as a feature.
This roof will be not accessible for the public except for maintenance purpose. However, this sedum roof can be seen from the first floor of church foyer.
The side wall has a full glazing which exposed directly to the sedum roof, meaning that there is a clear visualization from the room to outside view.
It is very important that people can have a private place and time for them to pray in silence.
Different atmospheres can be felt throughout the days, whether it is morning time when the sky is still dark, a bright afternoon lunch time when people talk, drink tea, or relaxing, or at noon when the service is going.
With the cross sitting on the inclined sedum roof, the scenery becomes a story of how Calvary Church itself got its name.
Material wise, the use of timber, plaster, and brick play important roles in shaping the desired church atmosphere.
For the main two storey building, timber flooring is used. As for the main service hall, series of rectangular plywood are attached throughout the wall, forming a simple and warm space.
The courtyard is mainly constructed out of bricks, both the wall and flooring correspondence to the outer brick.
With the bright light shining through, the courtyard with roof light works as buffer space between the main service hall and main building.
Next to the courtyard, there is a wooden stair leading to the church foyer which features wooden floor, balustrade and seats, with timber frame window towards the view to the sedum roof.
Description
Founded in 1990, Calvary Korean Church is a vibrant and active community serving not only its Korean congregation but also the wider community. The existing building was originally used as the council’s day nursery centre until 2012, before being converted into the current church in September of that year.
The proposed transformation builds upon the character of the existing site, creating a contem-porary and welcoming church that brings together worship, community and everyday activity.
Design Concept
The design is shaped by several defining qualities of the site: the beautiful pitched roof of the existing building, its generous frontage and car parking, the bright courtyard connecting the main and rear buildings, and the expansive rear garden.
These elements form the foundation of a design language that is contemporary yet timeless. Simple, carefully detailed materials are used throughout the building to create a sense of con-tinuity, warmth and permanence.
At the heart of the proposal is the new main service hall, positioned within the existing rear building. Visually connected to the main church building on one side and the expansive rear garden on the other, the hall becomes the central hub of the church — a place for worship, gathering and community life.
A Flexible Space for Worship and Community
The main service hall is conceived as a generous square volume, with an inclined ceiling rising from approximately 3 metres to 5 metres at its highest point. The scale and openness of the space create a sense of calm and generosity, while allowing it to adapt to a wide range of ac-tivities.
A large opening towards the rear garden incorporates two layers of movable glazing on the outside and sliding plywood doors internally. A further sliding door connects the hall to the adjoining corridor.
This layered approach allows the space to be opened or closed depending on its use. During services, the doors can be closed to help manage noise and create a focused environment for worship. Once the service has finished, they can be opened to reconnect the hall with the courtyard, corridor and rear garden, extending the space for social gatherings and community activities.
The hall is designed to accommodate not only worship but also meetings, conferences, resting and other church activities. An adjoining storage space provides convenient accommodation for chairs and tables, allowing the furniture arrangement to be changed easily to suit different occasions.
Together, these features create a flexible and inclusive space that can adapt to the changing needs of the congregation.
A Welcoming and Inclusive Arrival
Accessibility and a welcoming arrival experience are important parts of the design. Two en-trances are provided to support convenient access for people of all ages and abilities.
The principal entrance is approached by the existing ramp, with a new stair positioned in front of the main entrance door. A second entrance is provided through the side building, ap-proached by a ramp and leading directly into the bright courtyard.
This secondary entrance also provides an alternative route for emergency and fire access, sup-porting the practical requirements of the church.
Internally, the refurbishment opens up the existing narrow and dark front foyer, removing sections of internal wall to establish a stronger connection with the courtyard. The result is a brighter, more welcoming social space that encourages interaction and gathering before and after services.
The main service hall can accommodate approximately 165–170 people. In addition, the ad-joining corridors provide space for approximately 35 additional seats, while the rear terrace garden offers a further 35 seats. Together, these spaces provide a total capacity of approxi-mately 240 seats, subject to the relevant detailed design and regulatory requirements.
A Roof Shaped by Its Neighbours
Surrounded by residential properties and neighbouring gardens, the relationship between the proposed building and its surroundings is a key consideration of the design.
The new roof is therefore conceived not only as an architectural expression of the church, but also as a response to the neighbouring properties. Replacing the existing faceless flat felt roof, the proposal introduces an inclined pitched roof that rises from three sides and converges to-wards a single higher point.
This form creates a distinctive architectural identity while establishing a spatial valley be-tween the new roof and the main two-storey building. The roof is carefully shaped to improve the relationship with neighbouring properties and to reduce the impact of the new building within its residential setting.
The external walls are clad in dark yellow brick, complementing the existing building and re-inforcing a consistent material language across the site. Two pitched roof planes facing neigh-bouring properties are finished in roof tiles, matching the colour of the existing main building roof.
At the centre, a sedum roof introduces a layer of planting at first-floor level, creating a new garden-like element within the building. The roof is not accessible to the public, except for maintenance, but is visible from the first-floor church foyer.
A fully glazed side wall opens views towards the sedum roof, bringing the planted landscape directly into the experience of the interior.
Light, Landscape and Spirituality
The relationship between the interior and the garden is central to the architectural experience.
A full-height opening towards the rear garden creates a direct visual connection between the main service hall and the landscape beyond. The sedum roof provides another layer of green-ery, visible from the upper-level foyer and adjoining spaces.
At the centre of the inclined roof, a cross sits upon the sedum roof plane. This becomes a de-fining feature of the building, offering a visual expression of the church and a meaningful ref-erence to the story of Calvary Church.
The architecture is intended to create different atmospheres throughout the day: the quietness of early morning, the brightness of afternoon gatherings over lunch and tea, and the focused atmosphere of worship.
The design recognises the importance of having a private place for prayer and reflection. Through carefully framed views, natural light and the presence of planting, the building offers moments of stillness alongside its communal spaces.
Materiality and Interior Atmosphere
Timber, plaster and brick form the principal material palette, creating an atmosphere that is simple, warm and welcoming.
Within the main two-storey building, timber flooring provides a consistent and natural finish. In the main service hall, rectangular plywood panels are arranged across the walls, creating a calm and tactile interior with a sense of warmth and simplicity.
The courtyard is predominantly constructed in brick, with brick walls and paving that corre-spond with the external brickwork. A rooflight brings natural light into this space, transform-ing it into a bright and inviting buffer between the main church building and the service hall.
Adjacent to the courtyard, a timber stair leads to the church foyer. Timber flooring, balus-trades and seating continue the material language, while timber-framed windows provide views towards the sedum roof.
The resulting spaces are designed to feel connected, natural and adaptable — supporting both the spiritual life of the congregation and the everyday activities of the wider community.
A Church for the Future
Calvary Korean Church brings together worship, community and architecture through a de-sign that responds to its existing buildings, landscape and residential surroundings.
By transforming the rear building into a generous service hall, opening the foyer towards the courtyard and introducing a new pitched roof with integrated planting, the proposal creates a contemporary church that is both distinctive and sensitive to its context.
The project is a celebration of light, landscape and community, providing a flexible and welcoming place for worship, gathering and reflection for generations to come.