IF_DO extends an apartment set within a former London synagogue

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Mariell Lind Hansen

Designed by IF_DO, the single-storey apartment sits within a former synagogue that features an octagonal plan, large Crittall windows and irregular courtyard gardens surrounding the building perimeter. Totalling 73-square metres, the project extends the ground floor by inserting a naturally lit and naturally ventilated insulated timber structure into the north-facing courtyard.

Echoing the building’s unusual geometry, a triangulated roof structure is designed to create a lofty dynamic space. Large triangular rooflights bring north light into the building, transforming the formerly dark and unused courtyard, while retaining the south-facing garden. The extension increases the gross internal area by more than 30 per cent, providing space for a second bedroom.

Floor plan

Slotted between the existing brick walls of the synagogue and the site boundary, the timber structure employs seven columns with the roof formed from bespoke metal flitch plates and deep-section joists.

The project responds to the unusual building and site constraints with careful detailing and high-quality materials, says the architect. Birch timber wall panels and joinery bring warmth to the interior, while terrazzo flooring and skirting recall the building’s original masonry threshold.

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