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 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. 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?”
Architect designed Kilburn Brent NW2 kitchen house extension by GOAStudio London residential architecture – Finishes and materials
Contemporary extensions London architect guide – Types and options for your home project
Architect designed rear house extension Highgate Haringey N6 by GOAStudio London residential architecture – Glazing and views to the garden
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 abilities 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.
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.
