Clapham Home Refurbishment and Basement Transformation
Nestled in the heart of Clapham, South London, this exceptional domestic refurbishment, and basement extension project unfolds within the serene confines of a mews. Tucked away behind a bustling main road in the Clapham Road Conservation Area, our team transforms a home situated in a row of four houses facing onto a private garden and communal courtyard with the rear of a beautifully restored grade II listed early 19th century house now converted into flats.
The Challenge: Returning after a decade abroad, the owners found their family home needing both space and refurbishment. Key challenges included ensuring flexibility of use, increasing apparent space within a constrained context, providing new storage solutions, constructing a basement close to neighbouring properties, addressing basement waterproofing and drainage, and complying with fire regulations.
The Solution: Our innovative solution involved creating a lightwell to the front, introducing natural daylight to a new master bedroom linked to a walk-in dressing area and ensuite bathroom. We relocated the utility room, freeing up space for a stunning new kitchen. A strategic rotation of the WC adjacent to the kitchen allowed for more counter space, larger appliances, and even a wine cooler. A breakfast bar was seamlessly integrated, emphasising views into the garden directly from the kitchen. A new opening at the first floor connected the living space and landing, leading to a new study facing the courtyard. To maintain fire integrity, a heat curtain was designed. The second-floor bedrooms and bathrooms received bespoke bed platforms and a front balcony upgrade.
Building Methods: The transformation involved constructing a new insitu concrete retaining wall to form the lightwell. A cutting-edge basement tanking drained cavity system and drainage were implemented. A structural glass bridge with steel grillage retained access to the house, preserving the floor area to the garden and maximising daylight for the master bedroom. Respectful internal alterations were made to the existing timber frame construction, maintaining the framework while enhancing internal finishes.
Sustainability at Its Core: The project embraced sustainability with a whole-house ventilation system located in the loft space, providing filtered fresh air to all habitable rooms. Utilizing extracted air to heat the incoming air via a heat exchanger, this system significantly reduces energy consumption. Additionally, new bicycle storage was seamlessly incorporated into the front garden area.
Status: Completed 2022
Client/Developer: Private
Floor Area: 166 sq/m
