When it came time for Chris Newman and Nate Huntley to extend their Victorian terrace in 2022, the need for more space wasn’t their only driving force.
A shared passion for climate change and sustainability issues dictated all aspects of the project for the couple, who both work in environmentally friendly industries.
The story begins back in 2010 when Chris and Nate bought “a scrap of a house” in Peckham, South London. “My dad and I, with some outside help, did a complete eco renovation of it,” says Chris. “It wasn’t pretty, but we insulated it throughout, which was 50 percent better than the standard required for new build.”
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They also installed Solar panels and a new boiler, and finally won a national award for ‘Eco Renovation of the Year’. The next 12 years were focused on raising a family. When they set out to continue the project, the boys, Ralph and Ned, had reached their teens.
“We realized that the bottom configuration meant we were on top of each other, so drastic measures had to be taken,” says Chris. “Having a small garden means we can only extend so far, so we sought professional advice.”
Project details
- location South London
- project Extension and remodeling
- Type of house Victorian Terrace
- Size of house 187 square meters
- Build costs £225,000
- Architects Proctor and Shaw
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The right architect
from Find the best architect For the job, Nate shortlisted local practices, but also did a lot of research on the sustainability credentials of each—whether they were truly committed to the environment or just “greenwashing.” After interviewing three candidates, they selected John Proctor from Proctor & Shaw.
“He was amazed when we told him we wanted to keep our perfectly good timber frame, a kitchen that was only eight years old and all the existing structural steelwork,” says Chris. “After his initial skepticism about what we already wanted to reuse and recycle, he became very excited about the prospect of the project.”
John’s take on the story: “Design-wise, the idea of having steelwork was a wonderful example of how good design can respond to a given constraint,” he says. “It was meant to have steelwork pitched roof And a tight spot in the plan with a low ceiling. This became an opportunity for tiered rooftop allocations and contrasting super tall ‘towers’ that gifted the space with volumetric generosity.”
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The build proceeds
“As far as the existing stuff was concerned, it was all about the requirements to have the features,” says Chris. “But there was no getting around the fact that we needed to make more space and we put John to work.”
Accepting the challenge, John came up with plans for a triple extension. First, exist Side extension The rebuilt space will be stripped back to floor finishes and steel frames, with roof lights retained for reuse – and a highly insulated heated deck roof to create a new allotment garden.
The second, was filled by a small patio Adding two floors of space Clear with oversized windows, an oriel window creates views of the garden at ground-floor level and large upper-level windows offer views of the sky and roof allotment. The third element was a new room at the bottom of the garden.
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Recycling in action
The family made a brave decision to stay Staying on site while renovatingAnd luckily the build itself went as smoothly as it could have hoped.
All helped by the fact that the builders were “a real joy to be around”. “They were all super helpful and polite,” says Chris.
Before the work started, Chris took the opportunity to switch the heating system from it Gas boiler for heat pumpWhile almost all of the original radiators were retained, the family was grateful for the system’s efficiency – especially given that it had been a particularly cold winter.
“We were plywooded in the middle of the house and only had a radiator underneath, but the super-Insulation We installed it all those years ago, we were fine,” says Chris.
For a couple averse to frivolity, some creative thinking and flexibility averted a potential disaster. Through no fault of their own, windows ordered directly from overseas arrived with handles on the wrong side.
“Throwing them away and delivering new ones would have been a terrible waste of resources, not to mention the tangible energy costs,” Chris points out.
“There were only two of them Interior windowSo we installed them upside down to get the handles on the right side. After we posted our confusion on a local WhatsApp group, two other windows found a new home with someone who was in the process of building a property in Devon.”
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Green spaces
Chris and Nette were nothing if not ambitious. Not quite satisfied with all the new spaces they’ve created, they also yearn for more greenery, for an added eco dimension.
As a result of this desire, a variety of gardens were installed on all flat roofs – including small allotment gardens – that provide habitat for wildlife, as well as space to collect rainwater for reuse.
“On top of the tower we put a brown roof with an ‘occasional’ pond that fills up when it rains, then drains naturally,” says Chris. “It has gravel and sedum and we leave it to grow wild. And on top of the garden extension, we have sedum. Green roof“
As the boys are getting older and no longer need a square lawn to kick a ball around, Chris worked with a designer. Landscape the garden and include paths, a pond and lots of borders and shrubs, ending with seating around a tree – made from Akoya offcuts Cladding Which was used outside the house.
“Thanks to the architect’s ingenuity, we’ve gone from a one-bedroom home to a three-and-a-half-bedroom home,” says Chris. “Although he didn’t add that much square footage, John created a lot of space and completely changed the dynamic of how the ground floor worked. What he also did was add ridiculous lighting – it’s all so open and airy.”
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“About the house as a whole, it is no exaggeration to say that the finished result blew away our expectations,” concludes Chris. “We are very grateful for what has been achieved here.”
Enjoyed this tour? Take a look around The family home in Sheffield which was completely transformed by the extension of the glass-box. Or, step inside this A copper-clad eco-home shaped like an ‘origami’.
