London‘s Maida Vale, a picture of Victorian elegance, often conceals a common challenge: the lower ground floor flat. Frequently plagued by poor light and awkward layouts, these spaces can feel disconnected from the vibrant life of the city. MW Architects‘ recent transformation of a lower ground floor property on Elgin Avenue, however, offers a compelling solution, demonstrating how thoughtful design can breathe life and light into these often-neglected spaces.
The brief was clear: to create a light-filled family home within a secluded sunken garden, addressing the existing flat’s dark and poorly arranged layout. The clients envisioned a space where their family could grow and thrive, enjoying the unique advantages of their location while forging a stronger connection with the garden. MW Architects responded with a bold move: reversing the flat’s layout, prioritizing the living areas’ direct engagement with the revitalized outdoor space.
This strategic reversal is the key to the project’s success. Where once darkness prevailed, now light floods in. A series of cleverly positioned light wells ensures that even the bedrooms, traditionally relegated to the rear of the property, are bathed in natural light. The previously overgrown garden, now meticulously defined by the articulated form of the extension, has been transformed into an integral part of the home. The careful planning ensures that the slight reduction in garden area is more than compensated for by its increased usability and visual impact.
The interior layout is a masterclass in spatial planning. MW Architects have skillfully defined three distinct zones within a seemingly open-plan layout, catering to the specific needs of a family home. The “living area,” designed for intimate moments like bedtime stories and movie nights, features a lowered ceiling, creating a cozy inglenook feel while simultaneously preserving light flow to the rear bedroom. This intimate space contrasts beautifully with the grander dining area, which occupies the heart of the home and seamlessly extends onto the patio, blurring the lines between inside and out.
The kitchen, strategically positioned to overlook both the front gate and the back garden, acts as a central hub, connecting the family within the home and to the outside world. Stepped ceilings subtly define these distinct spaces – living, dining, and cooking – within the open plan, creating a flexible layout that can adapt to the family’s evolving needs.
The collaboration with the client, a landscape gardener, significantly elevates the project’s overall success. The external spaces are thoughtfully designed as an integral part of the home, rather than an afterthought. Expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows facilitate a fluid transition between the interior and exterior, with planting beds seamlessly extending into the window reveals. This design choice effectively blurs the lines between the constructed environment and the natural world.
An external “living room,” accessible through a grand pivot door, invites the vibrant activities of the interior living room to flow into the garden. Window sills positioned at seat height and deep reveals create cozy nooks for relaxation, enhancing the connection with nature. Additionally, a window that wraps around a corner further diminishes the visual divide between inside and outside, softening the overall appearance of the extension.
The materiality of the extension harmonizes with the existing building, utilizing a mix of rendered walls and brickwork. The textured brickwork provides a beautiful backdrop for the lush planting, while the rendered walls help to maximize the reflection of light into the light wells.
The Elgin Avenue project is a prime example of the transformative power of thoughtful architecture. By cleverly manipulating light, space, and materiality, MW Architects has transformed a previously dark and awkward lower ground floor flat into a bright, airy, and inviting family home. The project’s success lies in its ability to create a sense of both seclusion and openness, a rare and highly desirable combination in the heart of London. It stands as an inspiring example of how even the most challenging spaces can be reimagined and revitalized with vision and ingenuity.