Casino Avenue is a charming 1920s cottage house in the suburbs of south-east London that required a graceful extension that would respect the historical context and accommodate communal activities and family life. The project aimed to enhance the existing architecture while maximising exposure to light and reconfiguring the internal space.
From a design perspective, we wanted to rethink the kitchen and dining area as the nerve centre of the house. The architecture needed to be able to provide a comfortable space that would be able to be used for a variety of activities, becoming a space to linger, relax, work and host, rather than just a place for sitting and eating.
Using window and door apertures that were sensitive to the existing architecture we were keen to maintain a strong link to the outdoors, framing these views with inbuilt planting which is supplied by a rainwater harvesting system.
To fulfil the clients' aspirations, our approach focused on complementing the existing house with a fresh design that embraced the cottage character. Using tactile and hand-crafted material palettes such as hand-sawn timber panels, blue limestone and green Crittall windows, we created a soft and bespoke aesthetic.
