St PETERS SQUARE, W6

'REMODELLING REAR OF LISTED VICTORIAN VILLA AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW TWO STOREY EXTENSION'.

The existing house is a four storey stucco fronted family house built in the 1830s. It is the centre of a group of three houses designed to create the impression of a single more substantial villa, which is set in a large public garden square with other similar villas. All the houses in the square are listed and the area is a Conservation Area.

The Clients brief was for a new family dining room opening onto the west facing garden, and the provision of a utility room, and a shower room at semi-basement level, and an office at upper ground floor level. The practice designed a deliberately restrained extension in keeping with the classical design of the square. A large structural glass rooflight forms the centrepiece of the dining room, which also has large French doors opening onto an extended patio area.

The practice applied for and obtained Full Planning and Listed Building Consent for the demolition of an existing two storey rear extension and the building of the new extensions, including alterations within the existing house. On the advice of English Heritage, the planners requested that the extent of the excavated patio area be reduced.

The works were carried out under a JCT Form for Minor Works. The family of five were able to remain in occupation during the works due to builder's access being negotiated from a roadway at the back of the property, via a neighbour's garden, in return for some building works being carried out on a boundary wall.