Tea Room | Rensburg Villas
Project: A new kitchen and tea room to enjoy the morning sun
Location: Waltham Forest, London
Year: 2020
A compact cost-efficient rear intervention in a terrace house transforms the ground floor
When Russell and Oliver approached us, they had recently completed a roof extension to their Victorian mid-terrace house and were ready to proceed with a rear ground-floor extension. They needed more space, and most importantly, they wanted to improve the quality and comfort of the ground floor. Their kitchen was poorly connected to the rear garden, both physically and visually. They didn't enjoy the outdoors as much as they wanted and felt they could transform their experience living in their home by improving daylight and view of the exterior. At the same time, they were worried about starting a new project, given the bad experience with their recently completed roof extension. Their budget was limited, and they wanted a feasible but inspiring design and someone to lead the project and make it stress-free.
To deliver a unique extension with a limited budget, we needed to identify the most transformative moves: the glass corner and roof.
We prioritised a light timber structure and minimised the use of steel in consideration of the environmental impact.
Given the east orientation, we knew the glass corner could generate overheating during the year's warmest months. The new garden room has perimetral ceiling pelmets for a system of internal blinds that will not interfere with the view when not open.
The people entering the building are naturally drawn to the kitchen area.
Through a competitive tender, we selected a trustworthy contractor whose proactive approach helped us complete the project without incurring stress and unforeseen costs.
The result is best described in Russell and Oliver's own words:
"The glass design of the garden room is a revelation. It gives us access to the morning sunlight we've never had before. The design of the glass catches the early light perfectly. We can sit in the morning and watch the sunrise, enjoying how the light changes across the gardens and surrounding buildings, all from the comfort of our home. The amount of light we now have in the house has changed our well-being. People talk of bringing the outside in, but I feel this extension has given us the chance to appreciate our surroundings that much more."
