Closing the GAP
Adding contrast with a side infill can make an extension special
This renovation of a Victorian townhouse in Islington puts a new spin on one of the most common types of extension around. The side return is a popular solution for Victorian terraces, as it is straightforward to build and doesn’t involve reducing the size of the garden. You simply infill the slither of land between the house and the boundary wall to create a small portion of extra space for a kitchen or living room at the rear of the ground floor.
Designed by YARD Architects, this project challenges the idea that a side return extension needs to feel like part of the main house, by using contrasting materials to highlight it as a new addition. While the adjoining kitchen features traditional white plaster walls, marble surfaces and French doors, this space is a cosy dining area with natural clay plaster, an oak bench seat and a modern pivoting window.
‘Keeping a side return somewhat separate in design from the original building means you have the freedom to explore different materials and designs,’ explains the studio’s co-founder Simon Graham. ‘This creates an interesting point of contrast while still complementing the original building.’
A roof made up of large sloping skylights helps to minimise the extension’s impact on other rooms in the house and makes it invisible to neighbours. To help tie this more minimal element in with the rest of the design, oak louvres have been installed. ‘These allow filtered light into the extension whilst helping to maintain a sense of enclosure,’ says Graham. yardarchitects.co.uk