Victorian Garden Apartment, Belsize Park, London NW3

We were commissioned to substantially extend, rearrange and remodel this originally Arts & Crafts coach house in Belsize Park Conservation Area. The house had very few original features preserved, with the interiors dating back to the ’60s and 70’s, when it was substantially enlarged. We obtained planning permission for the front, rear and side extensions and an attic conversion, which enlarged the original floor area by over a third. The internal layout was completely rearranged, with a new relocated staircase, new kitchen, utility, dining and family areas. A new entrance lobby with associated guest cloakroom, wardrobes and sports equipment room was added. The new attic conversion created a new bedroom, bathroom and a playroom plus a lot of new storage space. The brief called for recreating the original Arts & Craft character of the house, largely lost during the successive building interventions. The new front porch extension with high quality oak windows and door joinery positively accentuates the entrance, continuing the traditional construction of the existing building. The rear and side extensions feature large rooflights, which bring plentiful daylight to the kitchen and the family areas within a substantial construction of traditional pitched roofs. The attic conversion offered a new gable roof arrangement with a new circular feature window. The new oak staircase is based on classic Arts & Crafts designs in the area. The exterior of the building was substantially overhauled with traditional materials of oak, reclaimed bricks, tiles and slate. Internally we used oak for all joinery and timber floors, a new staircase and much of the interior furniture. This created a warm and inviting feel for the house carried through all the interior areas. We designed all high quality bespoke joinery for the kitchen, bathrooms and cabinetry, complimented by attractive finishing materials of limestone, marble, stainless steel and glass. Despite the traditional appearance, the house was fitted with very modern hi-tech services of an air-to-air eco heat pump heating and cooling system, underfloor heating, electronic mood lighting controls, concealed trench heating to selected areas, pressurised water system, integrated music, TV and video system in all principal rooms. The house also features a subterranean bespoke wine cellar, landscaped and illuminated rear garden and front drive.