Whittaker Parsons creates courtyard house in south London

Architecture studio Whittaker Parsons has added an elongated extension to a 1970s terrace in southeast London to create a light-filled courtyard house.

Whittaker Parsons renovated the existing home, which the studio described as an "unremarkable suburban dwelling", and added a 14-metre-long rear extension.

"Breaking from the usual infill or extruded approach, this extension to a 1970s terrace utilises the plot's extra width to form an elongated extension, running perpendicular to the rear elevation," Camilla Parsons told Dezeen.

"This created a private shaded courtyard garden and provided unexpected spatial variety and flexibility within the home."

Constructed with hempcrete blockwork topped with a Douglas fir roof, the extension stretches the length of the garden to create the feeling of an enclosed rear garden courtyard.

Whittaker Parsons intentionally aimed to design an alternative to the typical London rear extension, although this initially met resistance from the planning department.

"It wasn't entirely smooth – the initial application raised eyebrows for diverging from the typical London terrace form – the permitted development three/four-metre rear extrusion or side infill," explained Parsons.

"However, after withdrawing it and engaging in a more detailed dialogue with a senior officer, the initially proposed 14-metre-long perpendicular extension was approved."

Described as "deliberately flexible", the extension contains a trio of connected rooms overlooking the garden through full-height windows.

Built ahead of the renovation of the existing house, the clients and their young family lived in the extension for four months, while renovation works took place.

The extension currently contains a sitting room and a guest bedroom with a toilet sandwiched in between.

"The homeowners originally intended to purchase a separate garden room to live in during the construction," said Parsons.

"Instead, we proposed integrating this space into the extension, allowing them to phase the work and stay on-site throughout the build," she continued.

"This approach saved them thousands in rental costs and resulted in a flexible extension that can function as a main bedroom suite, playroom, or study."

The studio turned the entire ground floor of the existing house into an open-plan kitchen and living space, which also has large windows overlooking the garden. Three bedrooms and a family bathroom are located on the first floor.

Throughout the project, Whittaker Parsons aimed to use natural, textured materials to create intriguing functional spaces.

"We aimed to achieve a sense of 'just right' in line with the architectural concept of lagom, which prioritises functionality, practicality, and incorporates natural materials and textures to create spaces with purpose and intention," explained Parsons.

Working with one of the clients, Price & Myers associate structural engineer George Reed, the studio aimed to ensure that the project was as sustainable as possible.

"We focused on the fundamentals – getting the diagram correct, carbon modelling, committed to responsible sourcing and optimising performance wherever possible," said Parsons.

"We evaluated methods of construction using carbon modelling tools, opting for screw piles and a lightweight construction approach," she continued.

"We continue to monitor the property's performance to understand how we can improve next time."

Led by Parsons and Matthew Whittaker, Whittaker Parsons was established in London in 2015.

The studio previously added a loft extension to a mews house in London and designed The Naked House, which was longlisted for sustainable interior of the year at the 2021 Dezeen Awards.

The photography is by Ellen Christian Hancock.

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