This Victorian house sits within a terrace in east London, and had a small kitchen housed in a rear closet wing, which did not meet the requirements of the client, a chef. An open plan kitchen, filling the full width of the plot, and linking the living areas with the garden, was developed as a practical and enjoyable space to work in for the client. The roof was conceived of as an abstraction of the traditional London “butterfly” roof, with triangular rooflights set in the south facing slopes which send light deep into the plan, while casting constantly changing light patterns over the floor, walls and kitchen units.