Whitmore Road 02

Whitmore Road involved the extension and refurbishment of an Edwardian semi-detached home located in the London borough of Harrow. This project initially focused on the concept of removing a dividing wall between the existing kitchen and connected dining area. Early discussions with the client about the usage of space in the home consequently developed the brief to be far wider in terms of its remit. Following these conversations it became clear that the amount of functional space was a serious issue for the family and broadening the scope could help to alleviate this. The kitchen was identified as the hub of the home but the dividing wall created narrow proportions and made it an awkward place to inhabit in a communal sense. The dining room regularly doubled up as an office/study for both the adults and the children which created further congestion. A reorganisation of the floorplan couldn't rectify this on its own and as such it became apparent that an extension would be worth exploring. From the beginning of the design process there was a strong desire for adaptation and reuse. The new ground floor extension was formed by amalgamating an existing brick shed into the house by creating an infill structure that nestled between the two existing buildings and formed a connection. This union of the two now provides space for a larger, more open, kitchen, a snug, a clearly defined dining space and a brand new utility area. A second floor extension was also developed to provide an additional bedroom, study/office, ensuite bathroom and storage. The existing under-used loft was adapted and re-formed to create a new gable end. This development allowed for a dormer to be constructed at the rear and provide much needed head height for the study/office and additional bedroom. The amendments to the existing building create further functional space for the clients. It allows the family individual space to expand while also giving them restructured communal areas to gather comfortably.