Low energy remodelling of an Edwardian favourite
Dulwich Gables
Building a ‘forever home’ for this family meant maximising space, and investing big in energy efficiency. Following a comprehensive renovation, they’ve gained an expanded rear wing and a newly excavated basement level, and now enjoy an Edwardian property cut to the measure of modern family living.
When renovating an older property, it can pay to be brave and do it all in one go. In a series of separate projects, each can end up grappling with the ghosts of those that came before – and with the original Edwardian architect, who probably held rather different views on matters like insulation and kitchen islands. As our clients knew they were constructing a ‘forever home’, however, they could commit to a total ground-up renovation.
The owners have a large and local extended family, so have to prepare for unexpected incursions around dinner time. Above the new basement, a rebuilt and expanded rear wing houses an airy combined kitchen, dining and dayroom space. That means room for 25 guests or more to mill around comfortably on big events like Christmas. We also made sure to heighten doorways and expand rooms to maximise physical and mental headspace.
When preparing for 30 or 40 years of family possibilities, it helps to start with large, flexible spaces. A major excavation has turned the crawl space, once good for a few wine bottles, into a comfortable basement floor. Right now, it serves as an extra sitting room with garden access and plenty of natural light. But in future, it could provide space for a visiting relative or lodger, a playroom, or even a music studio.
Executing these big builds in one go allowed the family to complete each to its full potential, while bringing costs down. As part of the basement excavation, we lowered the rear wing above to meet the height of the garden. This created high ceilings without upsetting neighbours (or the local authority). The new spaces are also column-free, allowing for creative reconfigurations in the future.
Insulation is another friend who rewards long-term commitment. A combination of cork/lime plaster and wood fibre insulation – the same we have installed since in R2’s own office – reduces heat loss through the old Edwardian brickwork by 80%. The once-congestive walls are breathing again and no longer trap in condensation.
A heat pump, topped up by a new array of solar panels, provides underfloor heating throughout the house. Meanwhile, the new MVHR system cycles fresh, pre-tempered air through all of the bedrooms and bathrooms. This takes full advantage of the original architecture, bringing air in through one chimney and expelling it out the other. It’s silent, preserves heat, and means no more noisy fans or open windows after showering.
Following this full-scale renovation, the owners can begin enjoying their home to its full potential right away. And they can rest assured that no matter what shape their family takes, they won’t need any more meetings with their architects – not for a couple of decades at least.
Photos: Andy Stagg
