Dulwich Wood Avenue, SE19
New dining room-cum-picture gallery adjacent and connected to main house
Dulwich Wood Avenue near Gypsy Hill and Crystal Palace overlooks a Green. It is a Conservation area, and part of the Dulwich Estate.
The Clients required an extension to their detached property that could accommodate a new dining room and provide hanging space for their collection of paintings. There was an area to the south of the house but this was closely bordered by an access way to a housing estate lined with mature trees. Planning approval and that of the Dulwich Estate depended on a suitable scheme being devised to ensure the preservation of the trees. This was achieved by constructing the extension on a ring beam on four deep augered piles.
The extension is traditionally built with cavity walls and London stock facings. A central lantern in the flat roof provides for diffuse lighting, and large glazed windows to the front and french doors to the rear complete the general sense of lightness to the room. The new front facade was proportioned according to that of the original house.
Special attention was given to artificial lighting, using a combination of wall washing and downlighters, and there are in-built security features.