The project involved the full refurbishment and infill side extension to an existing mid terrace Georgian property in central Cambridge. The design work included a full refurbishment of the house with kitchen and bathroom fit-outs and elements of interior design.

The existing house was arranged over many split levels which included a dark basement and poorly built roof level extension. The layout didn’t work particularly well and we recognised an opportunity to open up the levels to improve the connections to the social spaces on the lower levels. We did this by removing part of the front living floor providing a double height space down to the basement below. This decision enabled us to connect these spaces with a new section of stair to the kitchen at the split level as well as incorporating a small infill side extension to the kitchen. This provided a better connection between these spaces allowing the rooms to flow into each other. The incorporation of a frameless glass balustrade looking over the double height space helps with bringing lots of natural light into the spaces. The end result blends well with the Georgian proportions of the house, which from the front seems unchanged but on entering the house the spaces open up and provide views right through the house to the rear courtyard garden. Views from the front to the rear is an aspect we try to incorporate in many of our projects, and in this instance works particularly well. The design work also included a new kitchen which we did in close collaboration with the clients, who at the time were based overseas, and together we drew up the designs for the kitchen with a combination of off the peg units and bespoke handmade cabinetry to form this cost effective kitchen fit-out. In addition we also incorporated a new fire place, bathroom designs and remodelled stair to bring the whole house up to date.

• LOCATION: Cambridge
• YEAR: Completed in 2018
• PHOTO CREDITS: Michele Rossi