Verdant House’s striking extension embraces natural materials

Could you describe the project?

We extended a terraced house in Stoke Newington, London, completing a vibrant and functional home for a young family. The renovation turned the once-disconnected ground floor into an open-plan kitchen and dining area that spills into the garden through a bespoke curved window and oversized glazed door. There is an emphasis on natural materials and a unique approach to design, 

What was the brief?

The brief was quite open. The clients wanted a home that reflected their growing family and embraced natural materials. They also wanted a more interconnected, open and flexible ground floor, which was focused towards the garden and would allow them to adapt the spaces as they grew as a family.

Were there any significant factors that influenced the design?

We wanted to reduce the carbon impact as much as possible within the budget. As a result, the structural frame holding up the existing house and forming the extensions is made from 85 per cent glulam instead of the usual steel frame. This required a whole new learning process with the engineer about how to construct and detail this.

How did you treat the exterior?

The connection to the garden was a key aspect of the design. The west-facing garden, framed by a custom-built curved glass window, shifts the focus outward, providing views of the lush greenery while flooding the interior with natural light. Hemp fibre corrugated cladding on the exterior will weather beautifully over time, changing in colour and texture. A meadow-planted roof will grow with the seasons.

How did you design the interiors?

The client’s brief included references to tranquil forests, and we directly reflected this by including sustainable materials and a timber-led interior palette. The striking green timber structure adds visual interest and warmth to the space, offering a low-carbon solution that echoes the client’s desire for sustainability.

The kitchen is a custom creation, featuring a rooflight supported by bolted trusses and a combination of off-the-shelf cabinets paired with bespoke fronts crafted from chiselled oak boards stained with rich, dark-toned linseed oil. 

What was the main challenge of the project? 

The glulam frame required a whole new learning process for the construction detailing since it’s larger than the alternative steel size. It also required a bit of upskilling from our contractor and investigation as to where to source it. 

The procurement and installation of the curved glass window was also a challenge as it's such an unusual item and we only found one supplier who would make it for us at a cost that was sensible. It was designed for maximum visual impact but also in a way that allowed it to be brought through the tight terraced house hallway to avoid expensive road closures and cranage costs.

What is your favourite detail in the project? 

The curved window – how it takes you into the garden from inside and echoes the corrugation of the exterior hemp fibre.

Mat Barnes is director at CAN

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Key data:

Total contract cost Confidential
Area of extension 16m²
Area of ground floor refurbishment 49m² 
GIFA cost per m² £2,700