Haringey architects
Highgate conservation house extensions renovation.
Conversion of loft comprising a rear dormer extension and the insertion of four front rooflights, the erection of ground floor and upper floor rear extensions and the installation of a new window under the gable of the two storey front bay to a house in Highgate Conservation area, N6 Haringey. Addition of a garden outbuilding to be used as a gym and sauna room.
The architect’s perspective.
Sometimes you just fall in love with a property. For me it was the staircase. For them in was everything. When you know you know.
The clients bought the property as their family home and it is fair to say that by doing so they gave themselves a project with this property. This was to be a complete transformation of a beautiful and generous house, full of character, in a conservation area.
They knew exactly what they wanted to do with it and the only thing we had to do as architects was to help them get there.
We created a larger kitchen area, we extended the first floor to create a new guest bedroom, we converted the large loft space by adding a roof extension, and we added a garden outbuilding at the back of the garden (The Wedge TM).
Every part of the building fabric was stripped by to the bone.
This allowed us to examine the condition of the property and to identify the repairs necessary.
From that point on it became a process of adding layer after layer after layer to the existing building fabric to improve thermal performance, to make the home suitable for contemporary living, to do justice to that grand staircase and the original features of the house.
Technology is a mean to provide family living comforts, and the design of the plant room was carefully considered by the clients to that end. They took a very hands-on approach throughout the project and across all stages of the project.
This included the construction stage when they partly project managed the works partly while working very closely with the builders they knew well from a previous project. There were hiccups along the way and when hiccups happen you want something to drive the project through.
This project’s main driving force was the strong relationship, and complete trust, between the clients and their building team, which was pretty special.
When you deal with people you understand that they rarely experience things in the same way, or they have the same priorities for that matter.
This family home was transformed in response to the requirements of two clients in response to the needs of their young family.
Architectural services
For this house extension and renovation project we provided the following services. Initial home consultation and architect advice, measured survey and production of a set of drawings as existing, planning stage design and obtaining planning approval, preparation of technical Building Regulations stage information and obtaining Building Regulations approval, support during the construction stage.
Bits and pieces
- Client – Private
- Location – Highgate, Haringey, N6.
- Currently – Completed in Summer 2024.
- Haringey architectural and planning services – GOAStudio architects
- Photography – Darren Chung
ENGINEERED OAK FLOOR
FRONT CIRCULAR WINDOW
AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP
AREA AND CONTEXT.
“Southwood Lawn Road runs from the southern end of Highgate Avenue west before turning northeast to join Jackson’s Lane just before the junction with Southwood Lane.
The subject site is located close to the corner just off Highgate Avenue. This stretch of houses is characterised by mainly two-storey semi-detached properties that are semi-linked.
The properties are linked by flat roofed three-storey rear extensions that sit behind joint double storey pitched roofed outriggers which also sit behind joint single storey lean-to projections.
These properties are of the early late Edwardian era with an Arts and Crafts style influence, displaying a variety of details and decorative features. No 8 is part of a pair of houses with prominent front gables, squared ground floor bays and a cantilevered oriel bay at first-floor level.
The lower floors are faced soft red brick, terminating with a string course and rendered upper floors. Another feature of these properties is the porches which have attractive timber turned columns supporting the leaded roof. The site is located within Highgate conservation area.”
DESIGN MATTERS.
On the ground floor we proposed to add a single storey small extension to the existing bathroom area to match the depth of the extension of the property next door.
A second single storey extension follows the depth line of the existing two storey volume to create an addition that references the existing property while at the same time it allows for an enlarged kitchen, dining and living area to open up to the rear garden.
On the first floor we proposed to enlarge the existing volume at the rear to the line of the rear projection; the proposed first floor extension is a mirror image to the first floor extension approved for the adjacent property.
At roof level we proposed the addition of a rear roof dormer that matched the sitting, proportions, scale and size of similar rear roof dormers across the terrace and across the Conservation Area.
The proposed materials were sympathetic to the character of the area in terms of form, colours and texture, and that the proposed extensions and alterations did not affect the amenity of any neighbouring dwellings and they were not be visible from any public viewpoints.
The proposed garden outbuilding was rather modest in size and designed to fit in with the rear garden and the existing planting in terms of size, shape, scale and sitting at the corner of the garden between the rear and side boundaries.
HIGHGATE CONSERVATION EXTENSIONS RENOVATION – SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS.
- Complete re-wiring and re-plumbing throughout
- Internal wall insulation to existing walls and ceilings
- Air source Heat pump
- High performance aluminium glazing
- Smart meters and thermostats with underfloor heating to minimize energy use.
- Improved airtightness through the building fabric across all floors
This project is an example of applying the principles covered in our guide to renovating an Edwardian home in London, including design, heritage context, existing fabric and contemporary family use.
PLANNING AND CONSERVATION MATTERS.
“This infill ground floor rear extension on the boundary would specifically project out 3.4m and has been amended so as to pitch down to a height of 2.5m on the boundary.
The depth of such an extension is not considered to be excessive relative to the size of this plot and would only project 0.4m further than an extension which can be built under ‘permitted development’.
It’s acknowledged that although there are no other infill extensions on this side of the road, there is a presence of a variety of other ground floor rear extensions and alterations to the backs of the properties, with the ground floors to these properties not openly visible given the presence of intervening fences and vegetation etc.
In relation to the outrigger extension this is for a very modest single-storey rear projection, no deeper than the neighbouring extension. Given this extension is set at a different plane to the infill extension, which is to adjoin an outrigger, these two extensions in terms of resultant scale and how they would be appreciated/ viewed, are considered to be subordinate features.
First-floor outrigger extension – A first-floor outrigger extension with an extended pitched roof and new rear facing window would be constructed. Such an extension would be similar to an extension on the upper level of the outrigger to the adjacent property, approved in 2008. This addition would be faced in materials to match the existing and equally would have fenestration to match, as such therefore being subordinate in scale and serving to assimilate into surrounding context.
Rear dormer – The loft space would be converted, which would include the creation of a new rear dormer, 4 front roof-lights and a new window installed within the front gable. The materials for the dormer would be in keeping with the main house and the surrounding area. In regards, to the rear dormer, this type of development is prevalent on this part of Southwood Lawn Road and as such would not be out of place on the host property.
In the case here, the significance of the conservation area as a heritage asset lies more in the consistency and uniformity of the different groups of terraced houses and the overall appearance of the street-scene.
As such the fronts to these properties contribute more to the significance of the conservation area as a heritage asset, while the rears have a more neutral effect. The works to the rear, while introducing new elements, are acceptable in design terms and are subordinate features, having minimal impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area, as such leaving it preserved.
Conclusion – The proposal is considered acceptable in terms of design, heritage and neighbouring amenity and complies with relevant planning policies.”
For more information about the Haringey planning department, policies and requirements please click the link above to be re-directed to Haringey Council website.
Name and origin
The borough name, as well as its conurbations of Harringay and Hornsey, derive from Haeringes-hege, the enclosure belonging to Saxon chief Haering. [Londonist.com]
Haringey planning department
You will probably need planning permission if you want to build something new, make a major change to your home – e.g. building an extension, or change the use of your property. There are different rules depending on what you want to do and the relevant planning policy that applies to your property. At GOAStudio we have a proud record of dealing with the local authority planners and building control inspectors and we are on hand to assist with your application and successfully handle every stage of your project.
For broader local context see our Haringey architect advice for period homes, extensions and renovations page.
For inspiration and ideas see below some of our other residential projects in Haringey.
N4 Finsbury Park, Manor House, Stroud Green, N6 Highgate, N8 Crouch End, Hornsey, Turnpike Lane, N10 Bounds Green, Muswell Hill, N15 Seven Sisters, South Tottenham, N17 Tottenham, Tottenham Hale
HOME DESIGN – Find ideas for your 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
ARCHITECTURAL PLANS
We have prepared a guide on the type of Architectural plans you will need for your home project, and a guide specifically for Terraced house extension plans with advice on detached and semi-detached properties.
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 architects | Planning and design homeowner 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 architects | Planning and design homeowner guide 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, 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
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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
