A residential extension by Matthew Giles Architects brings the outside in and draws the inside out
Matthew Giles Architects’ two-storey rear extension to a Victorian house in Clapham, south London, preserves the existing finish of formerly exterior walls now enclosed by extensive steel-framed Crittall glazed doors and windows and incorporated into a double-height kitchen and living area.
From the entrance, explains the architect, there are “immediate axial views through the extended building footprint to the kitchen and main living space. The generously proportioned entrance gives way to the dining area which links together the front reception room and the kitchen”. From here the double-height space becomes visible, capped by a bespoke, aluminium-framed rooflight.
“The inclusion of the neighbouring property’s flank wall adds rich texture to the space, with layers of paint built up over time gives the scheme an overt dialogue with the site’s history – the wall is also a key part of playing with the feeling of being inside-outside”, says the architect. “Openings to the first-floor study and bathroom create the opportunity for continual social and visual connection between the two levels”. The generous volume is also used to create natural ventilation through the stack effect.
Glazing was sized to relate to existing Victorian windows. A grid of concrete paviors that runs between the kitchen and the exterior is intended to create a sense of continuity between the interior and the newly landscaped rear terrace and garden, as are outdoor worktops provided for food preparation and dining.
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