R&S HOUSE WITH ZINC DORMER

Stylish contemporary refurbishment, loft conversion and rear extension in the Lee Manor Conservation Area, Lewisham.

The clients desired to transform this outdated property into their long-term home and had very clear ideas of what the style and feel should be. The house needed renovating and its impractical layout hindered its convoluted full potential. The original house was fully renovated, plus rear and dormer extensions were added to increase the internal space.

The hallway immediately hints the overall feel of this home. Chevron wood floor and a large Crittall screen lead to the lounge, which boasts traditional joinery and stucco detailing. Yet, the indigo finish throughout and contemporary fittings reinvent the tradition in a modern way. The balanced blend of old and new is the underlining design approach throughout the house.

The kitchen diner features a glass roof and a full-width glass door leading to the garden. Inconspicuous small rooms along the wall provide storage and utility facilities. The loft bedroom has its door on the floor below and thus the staircase becomes part of the room, visually enlarging it. The staircase features glass balustrades and a handrail recessed into the wall.

Attention was paid to every detail. The zinc-clad dormer with chamfered edges frames a full-width picture window. Vertical rib joints in the cladding articulate the cheeks of the dormer and are formed into a discreet rainwater channel. A slither of glass, spanning two floors in the rear elevation, contributes to the high level of natural light entering the interior.

The cohesive combination of traditional and modern details creates characterful, cosy rooms with a very homely feel.

The design was highly praised by the local planning authority as an exemplar approach to extending properties within conservation areas.

The project featured in the London Time Out magazine as a highlight of Open House 2019.

R&S House also represented the London Borough of Lewisham in the Open House 2019 report.

It is displayed in the Hackney's Draft Residential Extension and Alteration Planning Document of September 2025 as an example of a contemporary large rear dormer where they are permitted.

Photography: PLANSTUDIO & Gautier Houba