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Highgate House

A complete refurbishment of a 1930s, 3-storey house including new basement works, a rear extension, dormer extensions and rear garden design,  located within Highgate Conservation Area in the London Borough of Haringey.

The main aims of the project were to create a larger, open-plan living/dining space on the ground floor, bring light down into a rather damp and gloomy basement, create a new master bedroom suite in the loft and to add en-suites to the existing bedrooms.

The primary move was to introduce a new sculptural staircase into the middle of the property, allowing daylight to reach the heart of every floor. By installing a sprinkler system we were able to do away with fire lobbies at ground and basement level, allowing an uninterrupted view from the front door through to the landscaped garden at the rear and introducing air circulation below ground. Areas of glazed flooring were added to the ground floor to bring daylight into the gym and music studio located in the basement. Additionally, the basement was further excavated and underpinned to improve headroom and allow the space to be fully waterproofed.

The ground floor extension was designed with full width, full height sliding glass doors and a glass roof, employing horizontal and vertical automatic blinds to control solar gain. This opening up of the ground floor rear wall gives a far stronger connection to the garden and gives the ground floor a light and airy feel even on a grey winter’s morning.

The material palette for the project is carefully chosen based on light, natural materials. Floors are white-oiled oak and walls are finished in warm-toned clay plaster. A waterproof micro-cement gives a clean, seamless surface in bathrooms, and a poured resin floor gives a light and smooth finish to the basement. The staircase is formed of folded, blackened steel plate. The kitchen is finished in edge-cut white oiled plywood, deep blue furniture linoleum.

The rear and side dormer extensions at roof level are clad in Corten steel, whose rich, rusted tone complements the  original terracotta roof tiles (which are typical of Highgate ). The rear dormer incorporated a automatic, modern sash window which affords views out over the garden and can also drop down completely to act as a juliette balcony.

With in the loft sits the open plan master bedroom suite, which includes a day-lit shower cubicle and an indulgent circular bathtub. A clean, minimal palette of white-stained oak and poured resin flooring create a calm and contemplative retreat.

Being situated in the Highgate Conservation area, the project presented a number of challenges at planning stage which Hatterwan successfully overcame. In addition to the ground floor and dormer extensions, permission was granted for off-street parking in the front garden. An outbuilding was also constructed in the rear garden which housed a cycle workshop, a sauna, an outdoor shower and air conditioning condensers. This outbuilding incorporated a green roof and living walls to form a lush backdrop to the garden viewed from the house. More details of can be found here.

Main Contractor: Keenan Construction
Architect: Hatterwan Architects
Structural Engineer: Mason Navarro Pledge
Garden Designer: Emma Griffin Garden Design
Party Wall Surveyor: Marc Newton Associates (London)
Stair Specialist: Diapo Staircase
Kitchen Specialist: Kingshill Furniture
Joinery Specialist: Grey Oak
Resin Floor: Resin Flooring
Glazing Specialist: Cantifix
Cladding Specialist: Deptford Sheetmetal
Interior Design: Hatterwan Architects
Photography: Hatterwan Architects

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