Sustainable Renovation & Extension to an East London Victorian House

Ian’s brief was for a more efficient, ergonomic and sociable home. Creating a direct connection to the garden and framing views of the new, prairie-style planting was high on his must have list. Ian also wanted to restore the cottage’s front, which had been poorly altered. The modern windows were out of proportion with the original Victorian facade. Architect Matt Whittaker produced three or four options for Ian to consider. “Our main goal was to extend and improve the health of the existing building and  connect it to the newly planted garden,” says Matt.

The original Victorian brick frontage was fully restored, with new double-glazed windows carefully aligned with the neighboring homes’

However, the first design that went to the local planning office for pre-application advice was an extension with a flat roof, which was deemed too high. The second design was swiftly granted permission, including repairs and improvements to the original structure, plus a new rear extension with a dual-pitch timber and cranked flitch beam roof.

The pared back interior scheme is complemented by carefully selected accent colours and textures, providing warmth and character throughout the home

The ground floor was remodelled to create an open-plan but zoned living, dining and kitchen space that boasts plenty of storage and wonderful garden views. “That negative first response from the planners led serendipitously to an even better solution,” says Ian.

Clever Design

The defining feature of the ground floor is the extension, with its’ vaulted ceiling and exposed beams. A flitch beam is simply a steel plate sandwiched between two pieces of timber, bolted together and angled, or cranked, to form the pitch.

“It’s a slightly unusual choice, but there were sound reasons behind it”, says Matt. “We wanted to create a very modern space from a traditional building, making it as open as possible. Steel was too industrial, and timber alone would have required bigger beams with ties. The flitch is an elegant feature and by leaving it on show you bring lots of beautiful detail into the project.”

The flitch beam gives the strength of steel, but the birch suits the cottage aesthetic beautifully. Birch ply joinery ties the interior scheme together throughout the home

This approach also led to some savings, as steel would have been more expensive to use. Leaving the beams exposed further reduced material costs. This was vital, as the budget was a key driver in the project, something Matt views as a positive thing. “We couldn’t get carried away and get self-indulgent,” he says. “We had to be as efficient as possible.”

Despite initial savings, extra money was spent elsewhere. As with many renovation projects, the more you uncover, the more you find to repair. Ian discovered he needed to replace rotten joists and install a new staircase, at a cost of £7,000. The outrigger bathroom on the second floor required some serious TLC. Here, steel was used and painted over to be more sympathetic to the cottage aesthetic in the original upper storey. “We went as far as we could in upgrading the building,” says Matt. “Far beyond Building Regulation standards.”

The open-plan ground floor allows light to fill the property from both ends

Ian wanted a sustainable and healthy home, which made material choices critical. The new extension was built using Environblock, a masonry block made from recycled materials, while the windows have all been replaced with double-glazed units. Those at the front are now aligned with the size and shape of the neighbouring properties. The entire rear elevation is lime-rendered, which allows the building to breathe. Plus, the home is now warm and dry, thanks to jute insulation made from old coffee-bean sacks.

Timeless Interiors

Inside, oak flooring gives new warmth to the interior and is sympathetic to the original cottage. Elsewhere, birch plywood provides a consistent finish across all interior joinery. “I liked the idea of an exposed unpainted plywood,” says Ian.

“It matches the cladding on the steelwork.” With the whole ground floor open plan, the original cottage sitting room is connected to the extension, yet careful zoning has kept the character in this part of the ground floor. A new white granite fireplace creates a focal point. The original cornices add period detail and the room’s unusually high ceilings ensures it never feels cramped.

Exposed timber was both a cost-saving solution and a stylish design choice

“I’m not big on colour; the art adds that and ties all the elements together,” says Ian. He also ensured some walls were painted white, rather than covered in plywood panels, to better display his artwork. Housing his art collection also influenced Ian’s decisions around the interior joinery and, as a result, a long shelf runs through the extension. This also allows significant storage below.

The kitchen adopts a sleek, minimalist design, with integrated handles

A central feature of the extension is the new kitchen. Mindful of the budget, Ian chose plain white cabinetry from Howdens. There are no handles and very little chrome. The worktop is made from Neolith, a brand of sintered stone. Ian enjoys the kitchen’s simplicity, elegance and value for money, but keeping this area clear is a challenge. “It means I have to curate it, otherwise everything is on display, and I like it neat and tidy,” he says.

Bumps in the Road

Only the glazing caused delays to the completion date, but Ian is grateful that this didn’t also increase costs at the same time. Aside from the sliding glass door onto the garden, large rooflights drop light into the centre of the ground floor, while the new double-glazed conservation windows bring both light and character into the front of the cottage.

Ian had originally intended the elegant front form to be separated from the extension by a glazed screen, but this was dropped due to cost

The biggest challenge for Ian was personal. Having forgotten to factor in the cost of a rental home during the building works, he was forced to rent a very small flat nearby – sharing with his son. Now Ian has moved in, what he loves most is the space, natural light and the building’s relationship with the garden. The cottage’s conversion into a light-filled, contemporary home has been extraordinary. The original fabric was secured and improved, with an inventive extension to the rear that is the new heart of the home, and this directly connects to Ian’s stunning new prairie garden.

The rejuvenated cottage is now also the ideal backdrop for Ian’s collection of British art, and he’s loving every minute of living in his new space. “It gives me great pleasure to come home and wake up in the morning, to walk into the kitchen and the garden behind. You can see all the tall neighbouring trees, so it feels like a park. Living here has been totally transformational.”