A North facing rear extension reconnects with the garden and sky in Islington, North London.

The fine Victorian townhouse property is located within the De Beauvoir Conservation Area and is identified as making a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. From the outset three design constraints were instrumental to the form of the rear extension and key to the final configuration. Primarily, the provision of a well equipped and spacious kitchen was central to our client's requirements, the small galley kitchen was just not suitable for a house of this size. A new bedroom to the lower ground floor would no occupy the previous dining room space. Perhaps the most problematic but desirable outside space was the retention of the existing roof terrace area. Accessed from the raised ground floor lounge at the rear of the property it provided a pleasant outside space surrounded by the neighbouring properties.

A rear extension, typically takes the form of a full width aperture to the rear of a property however the existing roof terrace was to be retained. This however provided an opportunity to establish a hierarchy of spaces which determined the overall form of the rear extension. The full width aperture of the conventional solution is sub-divided to provide two dedicated areas, namely the kitchen and gymnasium; the existing roof terrace surmounts the gymnasium.

The new larger kitchen and dining room of the rear extension is remodelled to take advantage of the North facing aspect. The kitchen reconnects with 3m high folding sliding doors to provide framed views of the garden. The roof to the kitchen extension is fully glazed and looks to the sky to bring in as much light as possible to the north facing rear garden aspect. The gymnasium benefits from its garden location too and enjoys framed views of the garden which also allows natural daylight to enter deeper into the plan of the property. The roof terrace has level access from the rear lounge and can be enjoyed when entertaining guests.

Internally a bespoke hand-painted timber kitchen has been designed to our clients exact requirements. The neutral paint colours conceal solid timber drawer and carcase linings with full height walk-in larder and modern double fronted fridges concealed behind traditional featured joinery. The kitchen island is topped with a fine Carrera marble work-surfaces with a contrasting colour to the breakfast bar island.