Beauclerc Road, W6
'Complete refurbishment of substantial late victorian corner property and new rear extensions at ground floor, and roof conversion/extension'.
This three storey house is on a prominent corner site at the end of a terrace in a Conservation Area. The existing house, which included a small cellar space, was in very poor condition and required complete refurbishment, re-organising and extension to meet the Clients' requirements. These included provision of at least five bedrooms and 3 bathrooms (including separate accommodation for a nanny/au pair). On the ground floor, the Clients wanted to provide the maximum area of open zoned living space, with a kitchen/dining/family room opening onto a rear garden. The restricted cellar area was to be developed to provide utility functions.
Planning permission was obtained for a large dormer on the rear roof slope and this allowed for a generous en-suite nanny/au pair room in the attic. At ground floor level, extensions were approved which enabled the formation of a large family room with an assembly of 8 No sliding/folding doors opening onto the rear garden. This wall of doors was angled on plan to give a better relationship between the building and the outdoor space and to reduce the overlooking between adjacent properties. In order to avoid undermining the foundations and involving expensive underpinning, the central area of the cellar only was reduced and a raised plinth formed around the perimeter to support washing machine, dryer and freezer.