The Jewellery Box Extension

The Jewellery Box Extension
© Michael Collins
The Jewellery Box Extension
© Michael Collins

THE JEWELLERY BOX EXTENSION

Michael Collins Architect

CLIENTS
Ian Harding, Clare Checkland

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Michael Collins

MANUFACTURERS
Aurubis, Autodesk, Bauder Sedum Roof, Schuco, Sho Sugi Ban, Trimble Navigation

DESIGN TEAM
Ian Dunn Kitchens

LANDSCAPE
Clare Checkland

ENGINEERING
Osborne Edwards Engineers

AREA
50 m²

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
London, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Houses, Extension, Sustainability

The property is situated within a Victorian terrace backing onto the railway embankment from which the street takes it name. The terrace was constructed in the latter part of the 19th Century.

The Jewellery Box Extension
© Jacob Milligan
The Jewellery Box Extension
© Jacob Milligan
The Jewellery Box Extension
© Jacob Milligan

Like many similar terraces, the street side is defined by a tall uniform elevation of London stock, punctuated only by a rhythm of bay windows and recessed porches. At the rear, however, an eclectic range of incremental additions and forms is a testament to the varied lives of its inhabitants over the years.

The language of the new extension was inspired by the honesty and simple poetry of self-built 'add-ons' and 'closet returns' seen along the rear of railway terraces. Key challenges involved the extensive refurbishment of a cramped, dark existing property in a poor state of repair. A key issue involved how to maximise the sense of external space, and create a new sequence of generous living spaces to address a tall verdant railway embankment.

The clients, Ian and Clare, had a large collection of fine furniture and ambition to curate’ a series of distinct spaces each with their own identity. A 'jewelry box' was used as a metaphor to describe how a structure that was seemingly small from the outside; could unfold into a varied array of spaces when one progresses through the building. A dark and apparently simple exterior form would have a warm and eclectic interior.

The Jewellery Box Extension
© Michael Collins
The Jewellery Box Extension
© Michael Collins
The Jewellery Box Extension
© Michael Collins

DESIGN METHODOLOGY

The intimate character of the existing property is retained whilst creating a light and tall proportioned new space to the rear.

The extension to the rear is conceived as two cubic volumes embedded within a plinth. The lowered plinth along the boundaries contains the kitchen cupboards and units and avoids overshadowing issues to neighbouring properties.

One volume creates a tall central 'lantern' over the dining area and is detached from the rear of the property to allow light to enter from all sides. The second volume, a timber-clad bathroom rests above the roof structure and defines a space for a large roof-light below.

The Jewellery Box Extension
© Jacob Milligan
The Jewellery Box Extension
© Jacob Milligan

The tall dining space directs views up into the tree canopy of the embankment. A large pocket door completely opens the new kitchen to the garden area. The first-floor bathroom and bedrooms, look over a new green roof to the plinth to provide visual continuity with the embankment behind.

A warm and rich timber-lined interior with flecks of brass contrast with the existing victorian brickwork, complemented with sharply detailed darkened metal and charred timber exterior of the new extension. The external materials to the new extension were chosen to blend with the sooty coloured London stock brickwork at the rear, and speak to the oxidised qualities of small structures along the railway line itself.

The Jewellery Box Extension
© Michael Collins
The Jewellery Box Extension
© Michael Collins

ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY

A ‘fabric first’ approach was taken to the existing building and the new extension. The existing roof and ground floor were insulated using breathable sheep's-wool, new insulated glazing and thermal upgrades carried out to the existing walls. The thermal performance of the new extension is a 50% improvement on the current building regulations.

The new interior involved low VOC/free paints, reclaimed timber for all new floors, worktops, and the kitchen. Sustainably grown Timber and MDF from FSC certified sources. Copper and brass are highly recyclable materials. The new sedum/wildflower roof, and a roof drainage system that encourages the recycling of water to sustain it creates a new garden area larger than that existed prior to the new extension.

The Jewellery Box Extension


The Jewellery Box Extension
Proposed - Plans
The Jewellery Box Extension
Proposed - Elevation
The Jewellery Box Extension
Detail
The Jewellery Box Extension
Section