Modern black exterior extension with large glass door and window, brick house in background, plants and garden hose in foreground.

Gransden Road

High end design & detailing for a family home extension

Location: London
Architect: Sam Tisdall Architects
Budget: 150k
Completed 2022

Photography: Carolyn Barber

This project involved the renovation of a typical London Victorian terrace house for a family with teenage children. The final phase of the refurbishment was the construction of a rear extension, which required the removal of the existing side bay and rear extension.

To support the house above, a beam of back-to-back PFC channels was installed. This not only provided stability, but also an architectural feature for the room. The column sits naturally between the kitchen and dining space, which is nestled under a sloping section of the roof. A steel box-frame was also introduced within the rear wall of the extension, to provide overall lateral stability.

One of the key design features of the extension is the large square pivot door that provides access to the garden. Due to its size, it had to be craned over the terrace into place and now sits inside the new stability frame. This door not only opens wide to connect the interior space with the garden but also provides a simple framed view when closed.

On the first floor, the extension features a large square projecting window to the box bedroom. This window has a sill that folds out to create a desk, effectively transforming the small room into a study.

I have worked with John for many years and he is always responsive to what I am trying to achieve as an architect. I trust him absolutely to give frank and straight forward advice and to work with me to resolve problems and produce an elegant structure for each project.

John provides clear and concise structural design which is an essential part of almost every successful project. He is always on hand if something needs resolving on site.  His information is clear and easy to use and I hope to work with him on many future projects.

Sam Tisdall, Project Architect

A modern open kitchen and living area with a wooden ceiling, a sliding glass door leading to an outdoor patio, a blue armchair, a white cabinet, and decorative plants.
A modern kitchen with a skylight, wooden countertops, a dining table with a red vase, and an outdoor area with potted plants visible through glass doors.
Interior of a modern room with a white table, wooden chairs, beige textured walls, framed artwork, a black window with horizontal blinds, a windowsill with small decorative items, and pendant lighting with exposed bulbs hanging from the ceiling.
A modern dining area with a white table, four wooden chairs, a red vase with branches, and framed artwork on the wall behind with pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, grey countertop, sink, stove, and open shelves with various bottles, cups, and kitchen utensils.

“One of the key design features of the extension is the large square pivot door that provides access to the garden. Due to its size, it had to be craned over the terrace into place and now sits inside the new stability frame.”

Interior of a modern home with a kitchen island on wheels, a colorful abstract painting on the wall, a bowl of fruit on the island, and a patterned tile floor.
Wooden table with metal legs and green wooden chairs underneath. The table has a colorful fabric cloth hanging from the side. The flooring is wooden, and some shelves with objects are visible in the background.
View through a window into a kitchen or dining area with plants, a red vase, and various kitchen items visible.
Interior view of a room with a beige wall, a white window with a bookshelf inside, a potted ivy plant hanging down, a wooden cabinet, and part of a black wire chair.
A modern kitchen with natural wood cabinetry, a green planter, a white wall clock, framed art, and a bowl of oranges on the countertop.

“responsive to what I am trying to achieve as an architect. I trust him absolutely to give frank and straight forward advice and to work with me to resolve problems and produce an elegant structure for each project..”

Sam Tisdall, Director & Architect

Construction site with scaffolding, brick walls, construction tools, and building materials, with cloudy sky in the background.
Construction site with ladders, plastic bags filled with debris, and building materials such as rebar and pipes. The wall is partially unfinished, with exposed brick and insulation. The sky is cloudy.
Construction site with a pile of garbage bags and building materials, a yellow ladder, and metal scaffolding next to a brick wall.
Construction site with steel support pole, wooden framework, brick wall, and a metal measuring tool.
Construction site showing a partially built structure with brick buildings in the background. Tools, construction materials, and workers are present, including a large black trash bin and a road barrier.
Construction site indoors with wood paneling and tools, and a worker in the background.