A Light-Filled Addition Surrounded by Ferns
A jungle-like garden in London inspires an airy room connecting the inside with the exterior space around it
When Tim Murray, director at Moxon Architects, took on the task of renovating this Victorian townhouse in southeast London, the garden was full of beautiful ferns. In addition to renovating the whole house, Murray was asked to improve the connection between the home and garden to make the most of the luscious, pampered greenery outside. His solution was a glass addition that pulls in light and feels like it’s part of the outdoor space.
The granite paving was chosen because it is similar to the floor tiles in the kitchen and provides an extra connection between the two spaces.
To ensure the thirsty ferns in the garden get enough water, Murray devised a concealed system to collect rainwater. A thin line in the floor around the building provides drainage, and pipework below leads the rainwater to a hidden water barrel in front of the steel cladding to the left.
To ensure the thirsty ferns in the garden get enough water, Murray devised a concealed system to collect rainwater. A thin line in the floor around the building provides drainage, and pipework below leads the rainwater to a hidden water barrel in front of the steel cladding to the left.
“A big move was to lower the floor level in the extension,” Murray says. With this new, even surface, the engineered oak floorboards inside lead seamlessly out to the patio.
The connection is enhanced further by sliding doors along two exterior walls, allowing the owner to really enjoy the greenery around him.
Engineered oak flooring: Havwoods
The connection is enhanced further by sliding doors along two exterior walls, allowing the owner to really enjoy the greenery around him.
Engineered oak flooring: Havwoods
To the side is another glass door with a pivot opening, which brings in even more light.
Around the perimeter are sunken lights to illuminate the space in the evening. Murray’s client loves to collect antique artwork and furniture, and this piece looks stunning next to the glass door.
Around the perimeter are sunken lights to illuminate the space in the evening. Murray’s client loves to collect antique artwork and furniture, and this piece looks stunning next to the glass door.
The main part of the addition was built along an existing side wall, which the team left exposed to give the space character. “The owner wanted a very contemporary feel to the extension, to contrast with the refurbished period feel of the rest of the house,” Murray says.
The rest of the wall has been fitted with cabinetry all the way up to the kitchen. The custom-made storage provides a place for logs, a recess for digital equipment and a concealed TV, plus display areas. “This was purposefully designed to provide display space for my client’s antique collection,” Murray says. “It enables him to add his personal touch to the space.
“We couldn’t place the wood-burning stove on the engineered wood floor,” the designer says. “Instead, we continued the kitchen flooring along the wall to form a hearth.”
“We couldn’t place the wood-burning stove on the engineered wood floor,” the designer says. “Instead, we continued the kitchen flooring along the wall to form a hearth.”
A large skylight has been placed near the property’s original facade to bring in as much light as possible.
A wall of tall cabinets was included to house the integrated refrigerator-freezer as well as provide cabinets for larger objects, such as the vacuum cleaner.
Two pendants hang over the island, while recessed downlights illuminate the rest of the room.
Pendants: Delta Light
Two pendants hang over the island, while recessed downlights illuminate the rest of the room.
Pendants: Delta Light
The kitchen area’s slick design is simple and uncluttered with integrated appliances and a practical undermount stainless steel sink.
Murray’s team has included plenty of storage in the kitchen for the homeowner to keep everything tidy. Recessed shelves sit on each side of the exhaust fan for cooking essentials such as olive oil. There also are compartments on either side of the oven for cutting boards, both of which are concealed by narrow doors.
Oven and cooktop: Miele; sink: Franke
Oven and cooktop: Miele; sink: Franke
A cutout handle is fitted with attractive veneer made from a sustainable, resin-infused paper.
Cutout handle feature: Richlite
Cutout handle feature: Richlite
A glass roof and wall were also added here to bring in even more light and to define the dining area. The glass door at the top of the steps, which leads to the large front room, was previously a rear window, but it was extended by the team to connect the two spaces.
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Pocket Gardens, Pint-Size Patios and Urban Backyards
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Pocket Gardens, Pint-Size Patios and Urban Backyards
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Addition at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional man, his girlfriend and her grown-up children when they come to stay
Location: Camberwell, a district of southeast London
Size: 645 square feet (60 square meters), including the kitchen and dining area
Designer: Tim Murray of Moxon Architects
Before hiring the team at Moxon Architects, the owner of this stunning space had already created a tropical paradise in his back garden. His luscious backdrop of tree ferns — thriving here due to an abundance of TLC — is a beautiful space that he wanted to enjoy from the inside as well as out. He asked Murray to create a practical addition that connected the inside and outside space. Murray incorporated as much glass as possible in his design, including glass doors, a skylight and a glass roof. The garden faces northeast, so it was possible to maximize the glass without gaining too much heat.
The exterior is covered with weathered steel. “We chose this specifically because of the contrast with the ferns,” Murray says.
Paving: Marshalls