London House Extensions Reveal The Line Between Old And New

Every city has its own set of beautiful homes and structures with interesting architecture and some tend to stand out in the crowd. For instance, we can’t help but feel charmed by all the lovely London houses and in particular by the remodels that give them eye-catching extensions. Whether they contrast with the original structure or they blend in, we find them all interesting and worthy of our admiration. But let’s have a closer look at these old houses and hopefully understand what makes them so charming.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

This house is pretty unusual in the sense that it occupies the basement and ground floor of a Victorian house and that actually makes it a sort of apartment organized on two floors. When the owners decided it was time to make a few changes, they hired Scenario Architecture to take care of everything. Their biggest desire was to have more natural light and the wooden extension that was later built offers them that. The owners and the architects agreed that this project has to involve as few changes to the existing building as possible in order to preserve its original character. As a result, the original brick facade was kept as it was but the conservatory that blocked the light was demolished and replaced with this extension.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

Not all extensions are so subtle and in sync with the original structure. Take this one for example. It’s basically a transparent glass box, not at all similar to the existing house to which it was added. This was a project done by bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture. The owners wanted an extension for their thatched cottage which was Grade II listed and they had to work with the local planning department and the architect to come up with a design that doesn’t alter the original structure of the cottage. Glass turned out to be the perfect material for the project.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

This extension is quite special. It doesn’t only complete an existing building but it actually links two structures, a Victorian workshop and an old shop. These two were combined by Threefold Architects to create a home and gallery space for their client, an art curator. The two previously separate buildings were emptied out and redesigned, their interiors being reorganized to create a series of large, multipurpose areas. The extension completes the new look.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

Before it became the bright home that it is now, this was a teaching space used by the Goldsmiths university. Architect Henri Bredenkamp of Studio 30 Architects is the one that transformed the building and turned it into a beautiful family home. The 19th century Victorian building became the architect’s new home but not before it got a new extension. The goal was to bring more natural light in and to also make a better use of the basement. The extension was added to the rear and it houses the kitchen, lounge and dining areas, all connected to the garden.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

Sometimes a house extension might be small and only meant to complete an already spacious floor plan while other times it may be big enough to add new areas to the house. This one was designed by Blee Halligan Architects for a house in north London and it measures 100 square meters. Its role is that of an open space kitchen and dining area which comes as an addition to a large family room inside the existing Victorian house. In addition to this, the house also got a roof extension which now contains a home office facing the garden.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

As families grow, so do their homes. This 1930s house from London shows the results of the transformation. It was Jones Associates Architects who gave the house an extension in order to create extra living space for the family of six. The ground floor was almost entirely redesigned. It became bigger and more dynamic, with large and open spaces oriented towards the garden and the roof was extended as well to make room for two extra bedrooms and a bathroom.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

This four-bedroom Victorian house stands out with its new sculptural design that Scott Architects gave it. Although the extension is clearly modern, fluid and quite different than the original structure, there’s no strong or dramatic contrast between them. In fact, the transition is pretty smooth. The new design takes advantage of the surroundings, offering views of the garden and letting lots of sunlight in. A great detail is the fact that the design of the extension was inspired by the characteristics of the site as well as by the neighboring buildings.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

Once a small and modest house, this London home has a whole new look now, after it’s been refurbished and extended by AR Design Studio. The client requested a new master bedroom, a walk-in wardrobe and a kitchen and living combo open to the garden. These spaces had to be added to the already existing four-bedroom house and that meant an extension needed to be planned. The project was quite tricky as the local planning committee declared that major changes to the street-facing facade would have a detrimental impact to the area. The solution was to build a vertical tower structure here, using bricks that match the existing building and a more modern extension at the rear of the house.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

At the same time this house got an extension by AR Design Studio, its entire facade and interior were redesigned as well. Now the house has a beautiful, clean and contemporary look and the update suits it well. Now it’s a welcoming five-bedroom home with a double-height entrance and spacious rooms with views of the garden. One of the elements that were preserved during the project was the original staircase which is now one of the focal points of the house.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

Old and new come together harmoniously in the case of this London house extension by studio Alma-nac. It was built for a young couple who wanted the house to become more modern, bright and open. This is why features such as the 3-meter high pivoting glass door were integrated into the new design. The role of the extension is to add more space to the ground floor so a new dining area can become a part of the layout. In addition to the new spaces, the house also gets to enjoy a much more open interior, now that the architects removed some of the partitions.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

Sometimes houses need just a few tweaks to be all that their owners want them to be. We’re all different and so are our homes and that means every once in a while changing the decor is not enough and more drastic changes are needed. This Victorian house in London was almost perfect for its new owner and architect Neil Dusheiko made sure to design everything just right. He extended the house and gave it a new and spacious kitchen, with skylights and an entire wall for displaying decorations.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

This is yet another beautiful London house extension that comes as an addition to a Victorian terrace. It’s a project by Studio Octopi which was constructed out of brick and glass, two materials that link the old and the new. The property dates back to the 1860s, with some major changes done in the 1990s. The most recent remodel introduced the brick and glass extension and reorganized the ground floor which now houses an open space kitchen, dining area and living room with direct access to a terrace at the back.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

Some extensions, even though clearly more modern than the original house, manage to look right at home when seen in context. One example is this 1930s house that’s been renovated by OB Architecture. In addition to giving the existing house a fresh new look, the architects also expanded it, creating this light-filled extension that’s just what the owner wanted. The glazed section contains the public spaces: kitchen, dining area and living room. It’s an important feature that gives the entire house a dynamic and vibrant look.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

Glass seems to be the architects’ favorite material when creating extensions for old London houses. It’s the smart choice, especially in those cases when there are regulations in place preventing the street facades from being modified too much. The transparency of glass ensures that the original design is not hidden or altered and at the same time provides the desired new spaces that the owners wanted. A glass extension might look something like this. This is a 1980s house that’s been transformed by Duncan Foster Architects.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

The main goal in the case of this glazed extension created by Lipton Plant Architects for a house in London was not as much to provide extra floor space as it was about creating a smooth and strong connection to the garden. At the same time, the redesigned house features a better connection between the two floors. The glazed extension also helps bring more light into the house, allowing the entire floor plan to be bright and airy.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

The unusual shape of this house extension can be perceived in two different ways. On one hand, the design is sculptural and edgy and these are the characteristics of a lot of contemporary buildings. On the other hand, the shape of the roof is a reference to the city’s traditional terraced rooflines. It seems like the perfect design direction for a modern extension added to an old  London house and it’s the design chosen by Forrester Architects.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

Most house extensions occupy the rear of the property. That’s where there’s usually more space to work with and less pressure to match the new design to the existing one. Architect Hugh Adlam designed an extension for this house in London and the project shows just how practical such a transformation can be. Not only that there’s more floor space but the transition between the indoor spaces and the garden is smoother and more natural this way.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

As a family’s lifestyle changes, so does the home it lives in. In time, the need for more space can become quite pressing and there comes a point when you just have to expand. It’s what the owners of this Edwardian house did. They worked with Malroy Architects and together came up with the design for this glass-enclosed extension that opens onto the backyard. It’s where the dining area was relocated together with the kitchen.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

The young couple that wanted to expand this house in London didn’t focus much on establishing a cohesive relationship between the extension and the original house, at least not in terms of style. They worked with Scenario Architecture. The architects also renovated and redesigned the ground floor, ensuring a connection between the two structures at an internal level. The existing house is a two-storey structure surrounded by terrace houses and it fits quite nicely there, extension included.

Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk
Rusted steel and glass extension to a Victorian style house Desk

The design strategy employed by McLaren Excell when creating this extension for a Victorian-style London house is interesting in the sense that it has a rusted steel and glass shell around a concrete floor. It’s a look that allows it to better communicate with the facade of the existing house and to contrast less with the exposed bricks and worn finishes.