This refurbishment and extension of a Victorian semi-detached house in south-east London for a young family had to balance contemporary design within the heritage constraints of being within the Dulwich Estate Conservation Area.
The project aimed to create a calm and light-filled family home, with a sculptural curved brick rear extension, a glazed boot room and a zinc-clad dormer.
Long views open up towards the garden, which replaces the previously dark, dog-legged corridor, bringing natural light deep into the plan.
In the kitchen, the floor has been lowered to enhance privacy and maximise sightlines through to the garden, while reclaimed terracotta tiles create a warm, earthy base aimed at grounding the space.
The glazed boot room at the side of the house is designed to provide a threshold between the outdoors and living spaces, and seamlessly connects the new extension with the existing Victorian house.
Architect’s view
On this project, Dulwich Curves, our focus was on reimagining a Victorian semi-detached home within the Dulwich Estate Conservation Area through a series of carefully detailed contemporary interventions. The project’s key innovation lies in how three new additions – a curved brick rear extension, a glazed boot room, and a zinc-clad dormer – work together to reorganise and expand the home while maintaining sensitivity to its historic context.
The scheme replaces a dark and fragmented ground-floor layout with an open plan arranged around long sightlines to the garden. The curved extension softens the transition between the existing house and the garden, while its brickwork matches the original fabric in tone and texture. A lowered kitchen floor improves garden views and privacy, with reclaimed terracotta tiles providing a robust and warm finish.
A glazed boot room connects the new addition to the side of the property, offering a practical entry point and visual link between old and new. The dormer extension, clad in standing seam zinc, adds light and usable space to the upper floor without disrupting the roofline.
Working within the constraints of the conservation area, we focused on proportion, material continuity, and controlled detailing to achieve a calm, functional, and well-lit home. The result is a carefully considered response to contemporary family life that respects and builds upon the character of the original house.
Megan Ebanks, director, MEA Studio
Proposed ground floor plan
Project data
Location Dulwich, south-east London
Start on site October 2023
Completion date April 2025
Gross internal floor area 218m2 (previously 192m2)
Gross (internal + external) floor area 267m2
Form of contract or procurement JCT Intermediate Contract with CD 2016 (ICD); traditional procurement
Construction cost Undisclosed
Architect MEA Studio
Client Private
Structural engineer Constant SD
Landscape consultant Tilly Dallas Gardens
Project manager MEA Studio
Principal designer MEA Studio
Approved building inspector Quadrant Building Control
Main contractor Uffington Developments
CAD software used Revit
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