Thane Villas

• LOCATION: N7, London
• PROJECT: Refurbishment, alterations and extension
• CLIENT: Private domestic client
• ARCHITECT: Marianne Davys Architects
• STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Charles Harris & Partners
• PARTY WALL SURVEYOR: James Davidson
• CONTRACTOR: WFK Construction
• CONSTRUCTION COST: £200,000 + VAT
• CONTRAT: JCT Minor Works Building Contract
• DATE COMPLETED: 2016

Project brief

The existing house is a three-storey end-of-terrace Victorian house.

The brief included internal alterations and refurbishment, new boiler and hot water storage, underfloor heating on the ground floor, a roof-level bathroom extension to replace the original box room, and a ground-floor extension with open-plan kitchen/dining/living area leading on to the garden, and replacement of windows on the rear elevation. The interior was to be made as light as possible with views out to the garden from all spaces on the ground floor.

Project specifics

The house was in poor condition and with much evidence of historic damp and movement throughout, although it had been underpinned. Floors were not level and walls were not plumb. A small utility extension to the rear blocked out the sun and the view of the garden, making the interiors at ground-floor level dark.

Part of the ground floor was rebuilt as it was so out of level. The new floors have high levels of insulation and underfloor heating.

The original extension was removed and a large opening formed in the rear wall to provide the new open-plan layout. The new extension spans the full width of the house and provides a spacious dining and living area that opens on to the small south-facing decked garden. A large roof light lets sunlight penetrate into the kitchen area, and from the kitchen island there are views across the dining area into the garden. The front living room retains all the original features and also forms part of the new open-plan space.

The new bathroom at roof level is a welcome and much-needed second bathroom in this four-bedroom family home.

Project challenges

• The original floors, walls, window sills and arches over the windows were not plumb or level, so many decisions involving the client had to be made during the project as to whether to rebuild, improve or leave these elements as part of the history of the building.
• Islington Council imposed many restrictions on the height and setback of the new roof-level bathroom extension, which meant it could only be a small space with a low ceiling.