Lightweight Extension to a Victorian Terrace

East Dulwich, 2023

Addressing the challenge of a significantly overshadowed garden with little direct sunlight, the project transforms a family house in East Dulwich through thoughtful extension and internal reconfiguration. By extending into a narrow side alleyway and utilising lightweight structure, the design maximises daylight within internal spaces and creates a buffer from the busy road outside, demonstrating an inventive approach to urban living.

This family house faces west onto a main road in a busy area of south London. The east-facing garden is bounded by a taller house to the south and an infill housing development to the east. This resulted in a significantly overshadowed space with little direct sunlight.

The proposal extends the existing property into the narrow side alleyway, utilising the existing walls to create a lightweight structure. This approach utilises the existing condition and maximizes daylight within internal spaces. A large, garden-facing window is supported within a timber frame, externally insulated with bio-based insulation, and finished in lime render. Above, a new glazed roof spans from the existing party wall to the existing outrigger, supported by three metal T-sections.

Internally, the kitchen is relocated to the centre of the plan to create a buffer from the busy road outside. High-level internal windows are added above the kitchen, allowing light to penetrate the deepest areas of the plan.

Structural Engineer: Nash Engineers

Photography: Grant Donaldson