Albion Grove, N16
Nestled at the intersection of two rows of Victorian terraces houses, in the London Borough of Hackney, this ingenious extension to an existing locally listed terrace property has harnessed the potential of this constrained site creating four new flats, 1 x 3-bedroom, 2 x 2-bedroom and 1 x 1 bedroom flat.
The proposal breathes new life into a former neglected parking area on the corner of Albion Grove and Milton Grove in Stoke Newington. Surrounded by an eclectic mixture of recent, mid-20th century and Victorian buildings the design was meticulously crafted to respect the area’s architectural heritage. The design blends a contemporary aesthetic with the neighbouring context using high quality materials sympathetic to the historic streetscape.
The new building complements two existing maisonettes, introducing a new communal entrance and staircase that cater to both. The new structure mirrors the neighbouring building’s internal floor levels allowing window opening to follow the line and proportion of generous vertical sash windows in the listed terrace flooding the new rooms with natural daylight and animated views along the street.
The rear façade has been staggered to maintain sunlight and daylight to the existing residential accommodation and to prevent a sense of enclosure to the existing gardens. The stepped façade maximises the usable footprint of the building providing a larger family unit with garden and smaller flats with private rear facing terraces above.
Benefiting from the embodied energy within the existing neighbouring walls the new building minimises its external wall area creating an inherently efficient building envelope optimising energy consumption. Sustainable features include passive heating and ventilation, energy efficient electric boilers with underfloor heating, green roofs, and extensive levels of thermal insulation to minimising energy loss. Furthermore cycle storage for the residents promotes eco-friendly transport options.
The project transforms a previously under-utilised corner site and demonstrates how homeowners can develop their own properties to maximise its value. The thoughtful urban development contributes much needed new housing stock to the borough providing high quality residential accommodation whilst at the same time respecting the amenity of existing tenants and the cherished historic built environment.
Status: Completed 2021
Client/Developer: Private Freeholder/ Edgehill 1642 Ltd
Contractor/Developer: Masro Construction Ltd
Floor Area: 454 sq/m
