ROTHERFIELD STREET | Atelier Baulier

Atelier Baulier has remodelled and extended the lower-ground floor flat of an early Victorian house in North-East London.

Having lived in this compact one-bedroom flat for several years, the clients appointed the practice to increase the size of the kitchen and create a living space directly opening onto the garden. The brief also called for the entire refurbishment of the existing flat to optimise storage and circulation.

Located in the Canonbury East Conservation area, the project resulted in a 20 square metre single storey extension spanning the full width of the rear elevation.

Atelier Baulier removed an existing shed and the entire rear facade at lower ground floor level to combine the new and old areas. In order to give the owners extra breathing space, the existing floor level was lowered by 30cm and the garden excavated to add a sunken patio continuing seamlessly from the living-room.

Whilst the existing services mostly remain in their former locations, the majority of partitions were taken down to consolidate the spaces and improve spatial flow. The floor plan is now articulated around a brass-clad storage volume into which the new staircase carves its way up to the bedroom at upper level. The front room is connected to the open kitchen living-room space via a secondhand set of Crittal doors sourced on eBay and refurbished to suit.

Large sliding doors open onto the garden with a flush threshold between the two blurring the line between inside and the outside. Visual connections to the garden are provided from all rooms; Atelier Baulier scooped an aperture out of the stair enclosure to offer views to the garden from the hallway. A rooflight slices through the extension increasing the ceiling height, providing views upwards to the sky.

Outside, Atelier Baulier deliberately blended new materials with the existing fabric. The new brickwork continues inside the extension for a seamless transition from the patio, which itself becomes an extension of the new living-room on sunny days.

Inside, the materials were selected for their durability and ability to acquire a patina over time. The focus is on the natural brass clad volume, which subtly reflects and distributes light deeper into the floor plate, its texture getting deeper and richer over time. A pale grey clay skim floor unifies all areas and is tonally matched by the clay pavers of the patio. Accents of white oiled plywood weave their way through the project, from the curved staircase to the bespoke high-back dining bench. The black Ikea kitchen, made from recycled plastic bottles, features Granby Rock worktops which uses building rubble bound together to create a terrazzo-like material.

Aurore Baulier, Director Atelier Baulier says:

“The recurring circular shapes found at various scales in the project take their cue from the arch detail surrounding the window on the front elevation, a legacy from the Georgian era. The exercise was to anchor the project into its context and achieve a generous and timeless simplicity.”

“The aim was to bring clarity to the plan, and expand the perception of the space beyond its boundaries. We started with a flat half-buried underground, where one could brush the ceiling with their hand as well as a floor plan so segmented that interactions were restricted. We wanted to create a bright and generous place to encourage gatherings and the celebration of everyday life.”

Photography: Henry Woide

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