Aperture House
A new-build home in Islington organised around a secret courtyard.
Our clients purchased the property back in 2013, with the view of settling down and starting a family. The design brief requested a modern rear extension that would let in lots of daylight and provide a sense of openness with better access to the rear garden. In contrast, alterations to the house frontage were to be sensitive to the local vernacular.
Entering through the front door, the entrance hall has been given a new lease of life with a minimal glass stair that bathes in daylight from the new roof light situated above. The tiled flooring leads seamlessly through into the full-width extension at the rear. The wide expanse of glazing forms an immediate connection to the garden. Externally, an aluminium canopy helps frame the view, whilst providing a little shelter from the weather.
Though there were planning restrictions to the height of the extension, the feeling of openness has not been compromised. The main steel beam spans 14.5m across the entire width of the extension to create an uninterrupted space. Within this space are the main family areas comprising the kitchen, dining, living and play spaces. A series of internal sliding folding doors divide the front reception from the main living space and can be opened up for large family gatherings.
The kitchen is located centrally in the space, orientated towards the garden, surrounded by a utility and pantry space concealed behind the kitchen joinery. The island is topped with a polished concrete worktop that cantilevers out towards the main axis, to provide a dramatic breakfast bar. Solid rustic oak fronts have been used to the drawers and cupboards to add warmth and a little tactility to the space, while hardwearing stainless steel has been utilised to the recesses, for the hob and pull-out breakfast point.
The main house has been extended at the first floor level above the garage, providing space for an extra bedroom with an en-suite. The entire first storey has been recladded in stained cedar battens to disguise the addition, with the bathroom window obscured behind the timber cladding. Inside the extended first floor, the ceiling follows the pitch of the roof, creating a lofty open space.