Belsize House

A timber extension has been completed by Studio Carver in Belsize Park, North-West London. ​Designed for a young Anglo-American family, the extension was inspired by traditional timber conservatories of the Mid-West. This addition to the original Edwardian house creates a light and homely space for the family out of sustainable oak, poured concrete​ ​and​ ​zinc​ ​cladding.

Built for £75k out of a tiny plot size of only 10sqm, Studio Carver’s innovative design replaces the previous conservatory and offers an increase in both natural light and privacy as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​greater​ ​visual​ ​and​ ​physical​ ​connections​ ​to​ ​the​ ​garden.

The timber fins and windows rest carefully atop a concrete plinth grounding the new conservatory, opening up the home with a modern design. Sustainably sourced white oiled oak cladding, combined with exposed concrete, creates a calm palette and subtle contrast to the​ ​existing​ ​London​ ​stock​ ​brick​ ​and​ ​white​ ​painted​ ​house.

Working with Devonshire-based carpentry company Emanuel Hendry the structure was designed and tested off-site first and then re-assembled at the Belsize Park home reducing construction time and costs. The collaboration between designer and carpenter enabled them to push the limits of typical timber frame construction and achieve something unique and​ ​beautiful​ ​on​ ​this​ ​small​ ​back​ ​garden​ ​site.

Furniture was designed into the conservatory; internally an oak bench spans across the rear elevation creating a modern dining area that’s efficient with it’s space. Occupants can sit against the glazing, experiencing the garden and landscape while still protected from the neighbouring​ ​properties.

A large, strip skylight between the extension and existing house separates the new from the old and together with the external timber fins create a rhythm to both the structure and how natural​ ​light​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​room.

Tall 2m-high vertical sash windows maximise natural light for the living area and reflect the elegance of the existing Edwardian rear french doors. Deep oak fins between the windows express this verticality whilst reducing neighbouring views into the property. Within a dense residential neighbourhood and amongst small rear gardens it was a design priority to maintain​ ​privacy​ ​whilst​ ​not​ ​compromising​ ​connections​ ​with​ ​the​ ​garden