Family living in dense urban areas can often be challenging—and many households opt to move to places where space is less expensive. A London-based couple with two young children were determined to stay in the city they loved, so they called on architect Mariia Pashenko to transform a vacant and deteriorating 19th-century terrace house into a bright family home.

Pashenko drew up a concept composed of five distinct parts: the original Victorian terrace, a glass bridge/atrium that connects the old and new, a contemporary rear extension, a patio garden, and a detached studio. In doing so, she doubled the size of the house from 115 square meters to 230 square meters (about 2,475 square feet).

“The project was conceived as a prototype for dense urban living, and the development has been thoughtfully maximized within local planning constraints,” explains Pashenko. “It successfully responds to the challenge of making an experientially rich dwelling within the context of a congested cityscape.”

Before: Front Exterior

The two-story, three-bedroom, mid-terrace house was built in the 1890s. It had been vacant for several years and was poorly insulated and suffering from damp. “When we first visited the house, there was a feeling of melancholy about its dilapidated state,” recalls architect Mariia Pashenko. “At the same time, there was excitement about the amazing potential of the project and the future transformation.”" layout="" credit="Courtesy Pashenko Works" photoUserId=""/>

After: Front Exterior

Pashenko Works restored and preserved the historic facade while designing the new additions in a more contemporary style. “The front presents a characteristic period terrace, and forms a charming ensemble with the neighboring properties,” says principal Mariia Pashenko." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Stijn Bollaert" photoUserId=""/>

Before: Rear Exterior

After: Rear Exterior

Inspired by Belgian brutalism, the addition celebrates honest materials like steel, concrete, and blocks with a high recycled material content, which delineate the perimeter of the site. The extension is clad in off-white corrugated steel sheets, which match the color of the aluminum window frames and doors. “This enables the feeling of lightness and reflections of sunlight, but also echoes the white elements of the Georgian urban fabric,” says Pashenko.

The planning process was challenging—particularly as the council was reluctant to accept anything other than a traditional mansard loft extension. As a result, a design compromise had to be found—and Pashenko Works complemented the traditional mansard roof with a contemporary interpretation of dormer windows.

Both the ground-floor extension and the garden room have flat green roofs. These allow for lush views from the interior, improve the outlook from neighboring properties, reduce the urban heat island affect, and encourage biodiversity. Four photovoltaic panels on the new mansard roof generate a considerable amount of energy throughout the year." layout="" credit="Photo by Stijn Bollaert" photoUserId=""/>

Before: Garden

The garden is conceived as a patio between the main house and the backyard studio, enclosed in masonry walls. The space is planted with biodiverse turf and wildflowers to attract pollinators to the family’s edible garden, where they grow broccoli, spinach, carrots, and beets. “The garden busts the myth that growing food cannot be beautiful,” says Pashenko.

After: Garden

After: Studio

The “garden room” features an open-plan living and sleeping area with a small en suite bathroom. It serves as a private accommodation for the couple’s elderly parents, who enjoy visiting, and it enables the property to function as a multigenerational home. Like the main extension, the studio is constructed from Lignacite blocks, which provide thermal mass and ensure that the space stays cool in the summer.

“We used the same material palette, light fixtures, and colors outside and inside, enhancing the feeling that both form part of one whole,” says Pashenko.

Before: Entry & Stair

After: Entry & Stair

Pashenko describes the existing terrace house as a “host” for the rear extension and the new mansard roof. The old and new volumes are connected by a glass atrium that brings light into the heart of the home and maintains a visual connection between all floor levels.

An existing sitting room facing the street now serves as an office so that the couple can work from home. This use of street-facing space evokes a historical set-up with workshops on the ground floor and living accommodation above. The desk is designed by Pashenko Works, and the plans can be downloaded from the studio’s Instagram page and made by any DIY enthusiast at home." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Stijn Bollaert" photoUserId=""/>

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

Pashenko replaced the original fireplace with a more contemporary gas-burning model. Cork side tables and a zebra rug add to the playful atmosphere, while potted plants bring garden vibes into the heart of the home." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Stijn Bollaert" photoUserId=""/>The reception room leads directly to the living room, and on to the kitchen and dining area in the rear extension—and the entire space is visually connected to the garden. An atrium brings daylight deep into the plan, reducing the need for artificial light and helping to warm the house naturally from autumn to spring through solar gain. The heated, polished concrete floor allows for efficient climate control throughout the colder months; and openable windows in the highest point of the atrium provide effective cross ventilation in the summer, eliminating the need for air-conditioning." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Stijn Bollaert" photoUserId=""/>

After: Dining Room

The aim of the project was to achieve a seamless connection between the inside and the outside. The dining floor and the terrace have a flush connection—so when the rear slider is open, the outside and the inside merge together. The profiles of the sliders are also very thin and minimal, visually dissolving the barriers between the interiors and the garden. The permeable joints of the terrace—made using the same terrazzo pavers as the ground-floor interior—are planted with aromatic thyme. “It emanates amazing scents every time someone walks on the terrace,” says Pashenko." layout="bleed" credit="Photo by Stijn Bollaert" photoUserId=""/>

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Before: Bedrooms

After: Bedrooms

The master suite is located in the newly added mansard roof. It is full of natural light and offers the couple a quiet retreat. It also offers plenty of built-in storage.
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After: Hallway

After: Bathroom

The yellow Mosa tiles are juicy and stimulating, energizing the kids every time they use their bathroom,” explains architect Mariia Pashenko." layout="" credit="Photo by Stijn Bollaert" photoUserId=""/>

“The project unlocked the potential of a 130-year-old Victorian house and made it suitable for 21st-century living through innovative and creative interventions,” says Pashenko. “It has been a long, challenging journey and we put all our soul into the project, but the transformation is astonishing. The children love playing in the garden and looking after the vegetables, and now they have so much extra space to run around.”

Related Reading:

14 Extraordinary Additions That Transform Centuries-Old London Homes

A Sublime Renovation Fills a Terrace House With Sunlight and Garden Views

Project Credits:

Architect: Pashenko Works / @pashenkoworks

Photographer: Stijn Bollaert / @stijn_bollaert