Residential
Chislehurst, 2024
We completed a sustainable & natural material led extension to an historic Victorian property in Chislehurst, South East London. With a brief for a minimal retreat for homeowner Kelly Johnson and her family.
A Grade II Listed property located in the Chislehurst Conservation Area, Newton Park Place was designed by Victorian architect Ernest Newton and characterised by it’s Vernacular Revival style, asymmetrical plan and irregular fenestration.
Rather than imitate the traditional Victorian architecture, as had been done previously with alterations in 2007, we designed the new timber framed extension to be purposefully different – a modern addition that matches the contemporary garden and allows for a large extension to the home’s interiors.
Kelly approached us as she had seen their work via Don’t Move, Improve! and felt they had the experience and skills to design something that would be contemporary, sustainable and beautiful. Initially she was looking for the usual brick extension with Crittall windows but ROAR wanted to do something bolder and greener, convincing her to go with timber instead.
Oak was selected for its low embodied carbon and longevity, along with the specification of wood fibre insulation. Working in partnership with specialist joiner Tim Gaudin, the frame was fabricated in their workshop in Devon, dismantled and then reassembled on site in London.
Inside, rather than the customary open plan design that’s typical of London residential extensions, homeowner Kelly Johnson asked for two separate spaces to the rear for kitchen & dining and living room.
The new dining area is a separate ‘nook’ off the kitchen framed by the skylight above and picture window. Finished off by the red string pendant, with warm and rich exposed oak joists and soffit and fenestration. The homeowners wine selection is also now neatly archived in a 3m deep spiral wine cellar crafted from engineered limestone concrete.
Full width 4m wide bi-folding windows with an integrated window seat complete the new living area. With the exposed joists extending into the oak pergola. The planters to the pergola provide privacy screening in the living room and solar protection, but also over time will form a green enclosure for outside dining. During summer the bi-folding doors can be fully opened maximising this connection between inside and out.
In terms of sustainability, we were keen that any works felt in keeping the garden and high quality design. Solar panels were incorporated on the roof of the main house concealed from view to reduce energy bills. And the extension topped by a Wildflower green roof, improving biodiversity, softening the extension and creating an amazing experience & view from the master bedroom akin to having your own wild meadow.
