Timber-framed extension to Grade II-listed house 'pulls the outside in'

Can you briefly describe ROAR's Newton Park Place project?

It is a sustainable and natural material-led extension that reconnects a historic Victorian house with the garden, framing views and creating pockets of space beneath exposed oak joists both internally and externally.

The Grade II-listed house, which is located in the Chislehurst Conservation Area, was designed by architect Ernest Newton and is characterised by its Vernacular Revival style, asymmetrical plan and irregular fenestration.

The proposed works included a timber-framed rear and side extension, wildflower green roof, spiral wine cellar, solar panels, upgrading the thermal performance of the historic fabric, and a new garden oasis by award-winning landscape architect Lilly Gomm.

Who is the project for, and what was the brief?

Homeowner Kelly Johnson approached ROAR after seeing our work via Don’t Move, Improve! – and felt we had the experience and skills to design something that would be contemporary, sustainable and beautiful.

Initially she was looking for the usual brick extension with Crittall windows. But we wanted to do something bolder and greener, convincing her to go with timber instead.

Kelly asked us to readdress the house’s relationship with the garden, bringing the outside in, while creating a warm and minimal interior palette with separate pockets of space for her and her teenage children to live in.

Were there any significant factors at Newton Park Place that influenced ROAR's design?

Rather than imitate the traditional Victorian architecture, as had been done previously with alterations in 2007, we designed the new timber-framed extension to be purposefully different.

In plan the extension respects the historic plan form with a stepped layout and a set-back side extension housing the dining area.

This approach to a Grade II-listed property, along with use of natural materials, was supported and complemented by Bromley’s conservation officer.

Can you explain the external treatment of the project?

Oak and a green roof were selected from the first-concept design images, for their sustainable qualities and to purposefully contrast with the existing red brickwork and tiles.

The composition of the rear elevations responds to the internal functions and views/access to the garden.

The extension steps along the rear facade in response to the original footprint, pushing the kitchen further into the garden and stepping the living area back to create a covered external dining area. 

Lilly Gomm's garden design extends directly from the architecture of the house, defining the planting beds and framing the view back to the extension.

Can you explain how the interiors have been designed?

Rather than the typical ‘super room’ open-plan layout, our client Kelly Johnson, asked for separate spaces. The ground floor is designed as four separate areas connected by sliding timber doors. Each room feels appropriate to the scale of the original house. 

The garden reveals itself as you move through the plan and the stepped rear extension pulls the outside in.

Full-width 4m-wide bi-folding windows with an integrated window seat complete the new living area. Oak joists extend past the building line forming a pergola for outside dining and planters to climb. During summer the bi-folding doors can be fully opened, maximising the connection between inside and out.

An underground spiral wine cellar sits partly underneath the kitchen island. The interlocking limestone concrete module houses 2,000 bottles of wine and is naturally ventilated.  

What approach to sustainability did ROAR take on the Newton Park Place project?

Oak was selected for its low embodied carbon and longevity, along with the specification of wood fibre insulation. We worked in partnership with specialist joiner Tim Gaudin, with the frame was fabricated in the firm's workshop in Devon, dismantled and reassembled on site in London, significantly reducing waste.

Solar panels were incorporated on the roof of the main house, concealed from view, to reduce energy bills. The extension is topped by a wildflower green roof, improving biodiversity, softening the extension and creating an amazing view from the master bedroom – akin to having your own wild meadow.

What was the biggest challenge, and how did ROAR overcome it?

A key challenge at Newton Park Place was the co-ordination and sequencing of specialist suppliers (timber-frame joiner, spiral wine cellar, green roof and kitchen) that were directly appointed by the client and sat outside the contract. This led to a hands-on approach to the construction and programming on site, minimising risk and potential delays.

What is your favourite moment in the project?

There are arguably several favourite moments such as the internal and external timber detailing, the framing of the garden from the kitchen, and the ambitious 4m bi-folding door. But for us, it is the unexpected moment of the dining ‘nook’ that wins out. The rooflight captures the natural light beautifully, revealing all the lovely warm timber tones, and the single picture window overlooks its own loose planting bed creating a different moment from the rest of the house.

Are there lessons from this project that might be applied elsewhere?

The technical detailing of the oak to create a minimal and simple interior, while satisfying technical performance, incorporating the wildflower green roof and tying into the historic fabric. This process of continuously refining details and working with specialists to deliver the original concept (or as close to it as possible) will be applied across all our projects.