Hillfield Park

• LOCATION: N10, London
• PROJECT: Full refurbishment with extension at ground floor and basement
• CLIENT: Private domestic client
• ARCHITECT: Marianne Davys Architects
• STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Charles Harris & Partners
• QUANTITY SURVEYOR: Batey Associates
• PARTY WALL SURVEYOR: James Davidson
• CONTRATCTOR: Talina Builders
• CONSTRUCTION COST: £620,000 + VAT
• CONTRAT: JCT Intermediate Building Contract with Contractor Design
• DATE COMPLETED: 2015

Project brief

The three-storey Edwardian terraced house is in a conservation area in the London Borough of Haringey, on a steep hill with a tiny front garden and a long rear garden. The rear faces south, and at roof level there are panoramic views.

The brief was to refurbish and extend the property into a comfortable family home, to create a recording studio in an enlarged basement, and also a bright open-plan kitchen/ dining/living space opening on to a garden with a water feature and raised planters.

Project specifics

The house was in a very poor state of repair internally and externally. The ground floor in particular was dark with small rooms and corridors, and the basement was damp with insufficient headroom. Extensive temporary works were required before the structural alterations, excavation and refurbishment could commence.

On the ground floor, the house was extended into the garden to the site boundaries. The loft was converted and extended with a dormer. The basement was excavated, tanked, insulated and soundproofed. Internally, load-bearing and non-load bearing walls were removed to provide a bright open-plan kitchen. To maximise light, the extension was built in frameless triple-glazing with large sliding/folding doors opening on to the garden. In the side extension, opening rooflights provided further light and natural ventilation close to the cooking area.

The first-floor balcony is also accessed by fully glazed folding doors that can be left open during fine weather, so the terrace and garden become part of the space.

Project challenges

• To obtain planning permission for the extension and alterations. Permission was refused for the proposed roof terrace and it was omitted from the project.
• Temporary works and extensive structural alterations were required to achieve the open-plan space at basement and ground-floor level.
• Numerous party wall agreements were required as the adjoining properties were multi-occupancy.
• Excavation and underpinning for the basement, as the house was on a steep hill and in poor condition.
• Soundproofing was needed in the basement to prevent outside noise affecting recording, and music from bothering neighbours.
• Meeting fire regulations was a challenge; a mist fire protection system was installed.
• The design and construction of a sustainable water feature; the water is recycled.