A small rear extension at the rear of a listed terrace building in Mile End, East London, required excavating into the garden to create a fluid interior space. The client's modest budget required some creative thinking, and the need to retain the existing garden fences actually provided us with the concept for the new extension's cladding. We made the new cladding to match these fences so that the extension would instantly blend into its context. A high-spec glazing system provided a seamless connection between the new living space and the garden, reinforced by the way the internal floor finish was carried into the courtyard. A strip roolight washes the side wall of the new living space with natural light, and a successful sedum roof provides a pleasant view from the existing upper ground floor window. A new wet room was added on the stair's half landing, and a new full height glazed panel provides a view into the new living spaces as you descend the staircase.