Contemporary extensions
London architect guide
Inspiration and ideas
As part of this contemporary extensions London architect guide we have selected some projects to lend architectural inspiration and design ideas for your contemporary extension.
Contemporary extensions speak about the now and the future.
They seek to use current materials or challenging forms.
They can “shout” with colour or they can “hide” behind a reflective facade.
They might try to establish their own architectural territory or to work symbiotically with a period property.
What contemporary extensions do not do is mimic. They have an identify of their own and they seek to question how things were done in the past.
For more advice and information see the following:
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
- Do I need an architect for my extension or home project?
- Why work with an architect?
- How do architects calculate their fees?
Planning Portal
Kitchen extension Highgate Conservation Area N6 House renovation and contemporary design by GOAStudio architects – The light behind
Residential house extension and refurbishment Finchley Road Camden NW6 Contemporary architecture
Arnos Grove N11 bungalow house extension green renovation by GOAStudio architects Rear elevation
Locally listed house extension architects Two storey rear and side extension in High Barnet EN5 – Pitched roof glazed roof
Rear house extension Highgate Conservation area Haringey N6 by GOAStudio architects – Rear elevation
Architect designed bungalow rear and roof extension Stoneleigh KT17 – East and West facing wings
GOAStudio London residential architecture
George Omalianakis, BA (Hons) B.Arch Pg Dip Environmental Design.
Chartered RIBA architect and ARB registered.
RIBA Conservation Registrant specialism in conservation areas, period and Listed buildings.
Residential expert contributor for magazines including Which? magazine and Ideal Home.
Last reviewed by George Omalianakis for GOAStudio: August 2026
Contemporary extensions London architect guide – Design aspirations and key considerations
Modern lifestyles and family living often require that a visual and spatial connection is established between the kitchen, dining, and living areas, and the rear part of the house.
When designing a contemporary extension an architect will respond by trying to open up the back wall to create sightlines, views, and circulation paths between the internal and external spaces.
We will talk to you about what is important, and try to get a sense of how you will live, work and play in your new environment.
So, it is worth thinking about how you currently use your space, and how you would like to use any new space you choose to add.
Contemporary extensions London architect guide – Types and options for your home project
There is an argument to be made that buildings need to be of their age and reflect the context they are built in whether this is cultural, technological, or environmentally ethical.
The best contemporary residential extensions seek to find a balance between the nurture of contemporary living and the nature of the host building the extension has a dialogue with.If we were to categorise them we could look to group them as follows:
Use
Forget glass boxes, fancy external cladding and luxury wallpaper.
Think of overlapping internal spaces, precise sight-lines, smart storage solutions, and bringing the house from the front to the rear by establishing a connection to the private and sunny garden.
And treat your garden as an external space to look at and treasure.
Materials
Red rust-like COR-TEN steel cladding, natural or blackened timber boards, and transparent or translucent glazing.
The beauty of handmade brick and the magical abiities of steel beams that allow floors above to be suspended hands-free.
Low energy wool insulation inside the cavity walls. A touch of yellow on a wall to make it vibrate.
Form
Irregular symmetry and butterfly roofs that define the spaces below.
Uplifting volumes that create a cathedral effect.
Cantilevered and raised areas that appear to float over the garden.
A sense of lightness in the way the extension touches the ground, or a sense of belonging in how it appears to rise off the ground.
All of the above
Because we might need to use the whole range of the architectural vocabulary to express what you want to say.
Design development stage
During the design development stage we will get to explore lots of ideas but you can start the process now by considering answers to questions as such:
- “Would an open plan layout work for us, or would we prefer that some of the living areas remain separate from the rest of the living areas? Which areas are best left enclosed and which spaces can we open up?”
- “Should the kitchen area, the dining area, or the seating area be nearest to the rear garden? How does the sun moves from dawn to dusk around the rear of the property, and how can we have best access to natural light?”
- “What are we trying to achieve in regards to natural light? Should we keep the amount of roof glazing to a minimum, which will make the rear garden appear more theatrical? Or should we go for lots of roof glazing to create an outdoor effect? Where should the cosy areas be?”
- “What materials do we like and how do they make us feel? What mental associations do we make with them, what memories do they evoke and what do we want to say with the spaces we look to create?”
- “How can we improve the garden and how can we blend the views from inside-out and outside-in when it comes to floor and wall finishes? What’s lacking in our relationship to our garden and how do we want to use the outdoor space in the future?”
Read our guide for your single storey extension
Whether you want a spacious kitchen-diner, a light-filled family room, or better access to the garden, extending at ground floor level often provides the most cost-effective and planning-friendly way to improve how you live.
Read our guide for your double storey extension
Whether you’re adding a generous kitchen-diner on the ground floor with a new bedroom and bathroom above, or extending an entire wing for family space, a two storey extension makes better use of your site while maximising value and achieving construction efficiency.
Read our guide for your bungalow extension
Whether you need more natural light, better connection to your garden, or a flexible new bedroom or workspace, a carefully designed bungalow extension can help you stay rooted in the area you love while improving comfort levels and the layout of your home for the long term.
Read our guide for your wraparound extension
For terraced and semi-detached properties, especially in densely built areas, a well-designed wraparound extension allows you to rethink the entire ground floor adding floor area, improving flow, and connecting to the garden.
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Send over your address, a few photos, and a short outline of what you're hoping to achieve.
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You will come away with a clear sense of your next steps and greater confidence to make informed decisions. The consultation (2hrs, £250 +VAT) is a standalone service with no obligation to proceed.
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Not sure where to start with your renovation or extension?
Read this before you meet an architect, speak to a builder or spend money on drawings.
This free, architect-prepared guide walks you through the 15 essential questions every homeowner should ask before starting a project.
"Should we renovate, extend… or walk away?
15 Questions every London homeowner must ask before starting a project to include homes in Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings."
Whether you're planning a modest rear extension or major alterations to a listed home, it will help you avoid expensive mistakes and give you clarity on what’s possible for your property. Includes guidance on:
Planning approvals. Conservation areas.
Timelines and costs. Appointments you need to make.
Design and sustainability options.
When to press ahead and when to walk away
We provide architectural services for residential projects in the following London Boroughs:
Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster
We specialise in
- Greener homes
- Retrofit and energy efficiency for older and traditional buildings
- Conservation areas
- Listed Buildings
- Homeowner architectural services
- Property developments architectural services
GOAStudio London residential architecture limited.
86-90 Paul Street, EC2A 4NE, Hackney
Chestnut Avenue South, E17 9EJ, Waltham Forest
t: 0203 984 3005
