Mata Architects adds timber-clad Panoramic House extension to Hampstead home

Local studio Mata Architects has extended a family home in Hampstead, London, with a timber-clad building featuring a glazed corner and an overhanging roof.

Named Panoramic House, the extension was designed to sit lower than the main living space, to make better use of the space and connect the home to the garden.

Previously, the home's main living area sat 1.5 metres above the garden and was accessed via a long flight of stairs, which the clients felt disconnected it from the rest of the property.

"Lowering the floor allows the extension to sit gently within the garden, bringing the landscape closer and creating a sense of immersion", Mata Architects founding director Dan Marks told Dezeen.

The site slopes toward the rear, and the studio designed the extension to follow the contours of the land.

"The extension follows the slope of the site, stepping gently with the natural contours rather than reshaping the land", Marks explained.

The position of the extension was largely determined by the mature trees on the site, with Mata Architects working alongside tree care specialists to establish root protection zones.

"What might have been a constraint became an opportunity, resulting in an extension that feels intertwined with the landscape rather than imposed upon it", Marks said.

Large sliding glass doors meet at the corner of the extension. These offer panoramic views of the garden and can be opened to connect the room directly with the garden and terraces.

The exterior of the new building was finished with timber battens and topped with an overhanging, tapering roof that provides shade and helps reduce heat in hot weather. Underneath the roof, a mirrored surface reflects the garden.

The surrounding trees further provide natural privacy and shading.

"Combined with high-performance glazing, these elements ensure the space remains comfortable throughout the year", Marks said.

"A sheer curtain adds another layer of control and atmosphere, softening the light and transforming the space when drawn".

Inside the extension, the team opted for a simple palette of natural materials, with timber floors, oak joinery and wall panels, and limestone in the bathrooms for a unified feel.

"We kept to a restrained palette of natural materials to unify old and new", said Marks. "The result is a cohesive, flowing interior where the extension feels fully part of the home".

Other London house extensions featured on Dezeen include a pavilion-like extension by Emil Eve Architects and a mansard extension to a Walthamstow home by Office S&M.

The photography is by Nick Dearden.

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