The first project from Walthamstow- and Norwich-based studio, Grafted, sees the renovation and extension of a Victorian house in East Anglia.

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French+Tye

Grafted, a design and build firm launched in 2022 by Lemma Redda and Nicole Fassihi, has completed its debut scheme. Cast Corbel House is a response to the client’s desire to adapt their Victorian property to facilitate working from home and accommodate visiting family and guests.

The key move is a crafted extension, with red brickwork arranged in a composition of columns which takes its cue from the brick detailing of the existing house. The expressive, corbelled masonry that tops and wraps around the extension is composed of 82 precast panels made by casting red pigmented concrete into inverted moulds made from plywood and rigid foam. The architects made a motorised vibrating table which was used to get rid of air bubbles in the concrete giving the masonry an ultra-smooth finish.

The extended ground floor has been laid out to create distinct work, rest and social spaces. The hallway has been reconfigured to guide guests through the home, heading towards the garden views. A utility room and laundry previously obstructed this route. The kitchen has handcrafted cabinetry, with surfaces and doors finished in richly stained oak. A central column separates the kitchen from the dining area, which sits under a gently pitched hipped roof. A new hand-upholstered window seat allows the dining room to double-up as a more informal space.

“We are excited about the opportunity digital technology and fabrication brings to residential architecture,” says Lemma Redda. “We have really enjoyed working in such a hands-on way as it has enabled us to punch above our weight in terms of ambition.”

“Being situated between Norwich and Walthamstow has allowed us to make use of the incredible makerspaces London has to offer and deliver a level of quality and detail that wouldn’t have been otherwise possible within the budget set. Cast Corbel House has taught us invaluable lessons in design & build and craftsmanship and we look forward to the next!”

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