This double fronted town house, although in a prime location, was in a poor state of repair. Sandwiched on an island site in the heart of the Pimlico Conservation Area, it had an unusual dual aspect with a very small, dark side yard at lower ground floor level and under pavement vaults to both the front and the rear.Our brief was to rethink the spaces and to create a family home, adding more space if possible. Our response was radical.We proposed the infilling of the only outside space at the basement and the creation of a large, open lower ground floor room. We secured planning consent for a contemporary structurally glazed extension over the former yard and this also allowed us to incorporate enlarged vaults into the living space. We utilised the width of the house to create a new WC, Utility room and plant room in the front vaults with a connection into the living space. The layout of the house was completely reorganised with a new roof extension incorporating an automated retractable glazed roof. This created a magnificent multi-purpose room extending the entire width of the house. The retractable roof can be opened during fine days and closes automatically if it rains.