Rear extensions
London architect guide
Inspiration and ideas
House and flat rear extensions are also about establishing a better relationship with the garden and this is something we always keep in mind when starting with your project.
Victorian houses used to have their utility areas at the back of the house and as a result the garden is often cut off from the main living areas and this is something we will look to address during the design development stage. Because an architect designed rear house extension needs to be the sum of a variety of considerations, a response to the client brief, cost and quality requirements.
For this Rear extensions London architect guide we have selected some projects to lend architectural inspiration and design ideas for your rear extension.
Rear extensions London architect guide – Design aspirations and key considerations
Modern lifestyles and family living 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 rear extension an architect will try to open up the back wall, create long sightlines through spaces, establish views, and curve 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 would like to 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.
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 the kitchen area 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 move from dawn to dusk around the rear of the property, and how can we have best access to natural light?”
- “What is the feel we look to achieve with regards to natural light? Should we keep the amount of roof glazing to a minimum which will make the rear garden appear more spectacular (Theatre stage effect)? Or should we go for lots of roof glazing to create an outdoor effect? Where should the cosy areas be?”
- “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 my relationship to my garden, and how do I want to use my outdoor space in the future?”
- “How will the family use the new space and how will it work in harmony with the adjacent living areas? Do we need overlapping family space as part of the new rear extension, a study or tv corner, and how will the circulation flow work for us?”
Rear extensions London architect guide – Types and options for your home project
Angel Islington N1 Listed House rear extension by GOAStudio London residential architecture – Garden view
In pure design terms there are two main choices when considering a rear extension. The geometry of the extension, the amount of space added, the use of the internal spaces and how they connect to the garden area will all depend on the particular requirements of the occupiers. As a starting point though, and in design terms, we can define rear extensions as follows:
Traditional rear extension | A design that is in-keeping with the character of the existing house or flat, for example Georgian or Victorian.
Contemporary rear extension | A fresh addition that establishes a dialogue between tradition and modernity, and it reflects contemporary aspects of construction and design.
Variations on these two types of extension will depend on the specific character of the property, the design brief, and the architect’s consideration of any relevant construction, planning, or other restrictions. No two properties are exactly the identical, and no two projects are the same when it comes to considering the individual preferences of every home owner.
BOROUGH SPECIFIC ARCHITECT AND PLANNING GUIDES FOR YOUR HOME PROJECT
Your local Council will have in place design and planning requirements for your home project and you will need to obtain planning approval for a wide range of extensions and alterations to your property.
When you get in touch we will offer you detailed advice about what is likely that your Council will approve and in the meantime we have prepared the following architectural and planning guides that include extracts of the relevant planning policy and examples of our projects in our Borough.
Barnet residential architect and planning guide, Camden residential architect and planning guide, Enfield residential architect and planning guide, Hackney residential architect and planning guide, Hammersmith Fulham residential architect and planning guide, Haringey residential architect and planning guide, Hounslow residential architect and planning guide, Islington residential architect and planning guide, Kensington and Chelsea Conservation architects, residential and planning guide, Lambeth residential architect and planning guide, Lewisham residential architect and planning guide, Newham residential architect and planning guide, Redbridge residential architect and planning guide, Richmond residential architect and planning guide, Tower Hamlets residential architect and planning guide, Waltham Forest residential architect and planning guide, Wandsworth residential architect and planning guide, Westminster residential architect and planning guide
HOME DESIGN
See our guides for ideas, inspiration and architectural advice for your home project.
Side extensions London residential guide, Rear extensions London residential guide, Kitchen extensions London residential guide, Roof extensions London residential guide, Residential renovations London guide, Mansard roof extensions London residential guide, Contemporary extensions London residential guide, Flat extensions London residential guide, Garden flat extensions London residential guide, House extensions London residential guide
Also see our latest Conservation area architects - London architectural and heritage guide and Listed Building architects - London architectural and heritage guide.
We have prepared a guide on the type of Architectural plans you will need for your home project, and another guide for Terraced house extension plans that includes advice on detached and semi-detached properties as well.
ARCHITECT SERVICES
See what we can do for you.
Introducing GOAStudio London residential architecture limited
“George Omalianakis Architecture Studio – GOAStudio London residential architecture” was set up in 2009 to provide architectural services and assist home owners with their residential projects across London.
George Omalianakis is a multi-award winning chartered architect with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), and has extensive experience in working on a variety of residential, commercial and educational sectors.
Which? magazine residential expert and contributor. Ideal Home magazine residential expert and contributor. Member of the Green Register of Construction professionals.
