Project overview
London
We were approached by an architectural academic couple who had studied the practice’s work for a number of years and recently purchased a remarkable Grade II* house in the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. The house dates from the 1720s and is understood to be the first recorded example of a semi detached dwelling in London.
The clients were keen to explore the opportunity for a new rear architectural extension which might provide a clearly contemporary contrast to the refurbished historic fabric of the existing house - in academic terms, a modern light ‘tectonic’ glazed element alongside the historic ‘stereotomic’ solidity of the existing brickwork.
The rear gardens on the hillside site had a well maintained upper level, but largely concealed a series of vaults in the overgrown lower terrace. Planning and Listed Building approvals were granted for the new glazed rear kitchen structure providing a link between the house and this secret lower garden which provides a setting for a swimming pool and spa facilities to make use of the remarkable 18th century vault structures.
