bunker house
SCOPE
Rear Extension and Internal alterations, sound proofing
SIZE
33 SQM (extension)
DURATION
18 Months
SERVICES
Design, Planning and Construction
STATUS
Complete
PHOTOGRAPHS French+Tye
A passionate, ambitious couple commissioned Bolans Architects to design an addition to the rear of their tight mid-terraced South London house with a two-tiered hilly garden to the rear. When we first visited the property, we could see straight away that something interesting could be created that went beyond the expected, so we were very encouraged when we realised that our clients were equally as excited to push the boundaries and create something unique.
We collaborated with our clients to design a rear extension that cleverly played with the levels of the house and garden, creating a series of spaces that simultaneously drew you in and connected you back outside.
Construction began in Summer 2021 when a substantial amount of excavation was required to form the bunker extension. The constant monitoring of levels and safety to all on site was paramount at this stage of the construction. Upon successfully constructing the substructure, we began gutting out the rest of the house and connecting the old and new seamlessly.
After 18 months of construction, what otherwise looks like a very standard mid-terraced house, sits a series of satisfying spaces. A partially sunken extension circulates an internal courtyard, and the furthermost part of the extension sits well underground, allowing for the garden space on its roof to be utilised, while also not appearing any higher than the neighbouring gardens. Careful attention was placed on ensuring that the level changes, both externally and internally, worked seamlessly. Every boundary has been carefully considered ensuring that over time the extension will disappear within the foliage to the roof of the extension. The main feature of the courtyard is a pond and a floating staircase taking you up to the living green roof of the lower extension towards the rear of the garden. The new extension houses the dining space and the snug area located in the sunken part of the extension dubbed by the clients and the design team ‘The Bunker’.
Internally, the addition of the house effectively doubles the footprint of the existing ground floor whilst creating moments of delightful spatial experiences and constant connections back to the outside space. The centralised courtyard creates a dynamic space and a microclimate, particularly in the summer months with the addition of the pond. The openness of the space surrounding the courtyard supports passive cross-ventilation. All areas feel connected, even the sunken bunker to the rear and the kitchen, within the ‘old’ part of the house, which makes a statement with bold yellow cabinetry and a floating kitchen sink that provides uninterrupted views towards the inner courtyard.
The inner ground floor courtyard connects to the upper garden via an intricate floating staircase. This staircase floats elegantly above the pond to provide a sculptural quality to the courtyard space and functional use. The inner courtyard is clad in a light grey horizontal cladding to create calmness and a soft backdrop to an already dynamic space.
We’re really proud of this project, which we believe is a great example of how to address a complex mid-terraced site, having successfully doubled the house's footprint without losing substantial garden space. The garden and landscaping strategy has literally become the very fabric of the extension.