An existing Victorian terrace property with lower ground, ground, and first floors was renovated and extended to create a more flexible and practical living space, to improve the quality of the finishes, and strengthen the visual relationship with the garden to the rear. What was the brief? Transform an existing basement living area that could visually connect with and existing mature garden and introduce lots of natural daylight and sunlight in to the living space. Key challengers include: - 1. To open up the existing basement level towards the mature garden. 2. Reconfigure the kitchen within the existing layouts. 3. Minimise structural interventions to protect the existing building and stay within budget constraints. Design solutions include: - 1. Demolition of an existing lean to extension. 2. Relocate the kitchen to the center of the plan. 3. Retain existing walls and piers to the existing rear façade. 4. New structural openings to the side return and rear elevation. 5. New structural glazing optimising light and views. The clients were involved in media and often travelled abroad for work, they therefore required a flexible low maintenance living space suitable for entertaining and enjoying time at home. What are the sustainability features? 1. The design introduces a new heated screed to the living space which coupled with passive solar heating from the new glazing helps moderate the internal temperature. 2. Minimal structural changes help retain existing building fabric which reduced carbon emissions and retained embodied energy. 3. New basement floor and wall insulation was installed along with high performance double glazing to reduce heat loss. The building methods were used included: - 1. A new insitu concrete slab allowed the installation of the new insulation, floating screed and underfloor heating pipes. 2. The extension utilised structural glazing for the roof and wall. 3. A self finished floor screed was installed 4. A new steel frame was used to create the new structural openings to the existing walls.