Basement Conversion

About us

Among the top residential architecture firms in London, Scenario Architecture has built a solid reputation expanding and enhancing homes across the city. Our architects distil the ambitions of today’s homeowners into hard-working houses that express the past and look to the future. We specialise in striking interiors that maximise space and welcome natural light. The Scenario client aspires to a new archetype for London living: open, comfortable and luxurious yet accessible.

We founded Scenario with an ambitious mandate: to adapt our signature style to the needs of a growing family. We collaborate every step of the way with our clients to create highly functional interiors that make the best use of their investment. Scenario’s bespoke architecture tells the story of the homeowner, not the architects.

Our portfolio of new and heritage properties includes Scenario House, an East London terrace house we expanded in nearly every direction to accommodate the busy and evolving lifestyle of its owners. In 2018, Scenario House was shortlisted for several prestigious prizes, including the RIBA London Awards.

Projects

Full renovation of a family home, exploring the connection between living spaces

The Scenario House, Stoke Newington during NLA Open house event

Starting your London project

London Architects Your London project

Most building projects in London require approval from the local authority. London architects can help you through the process, collaborating with council officials to see through your application. Scenario Architects has successfully steered clients through the permissions stage.

We’ve drawn up an illustrated synopsis to help guide you through the planning process for a London-based renovation, restoration, addition or new-build.

Focal Shift fire place, first project as local architects in Hackney E9

The Scenario House, Stoke Newington during NLA Open house event

2017

Your Basement Conversion project

We’ve drawn up this illustrated overview to help you understand each stage of your home renovation and extension. And we’ve created a step-by-step guide to help see you through the planning permission process. It deals with the ins and outs of UK planning and offers strategies for navigating the system, based on our own successes. Most home extensions and basement conversions require planning permission from the council in question. Scenario has been successful in securing this permission on behalf of our clients.

If you are thinking about starting an architectural project in London, be it a renovation, or an extension to an existing property or even a new build house we are here to help.

We created a brief and illustrated overview of the process to help you understand what to expect through the various stages of a residential, extension, renovation or new build project in London.

Most projects need planning permission from your local council.

  TIP: To find out the actual track record which any architects you may be considering has with your local council, go to the planning application search page on your local council’s website and use the search by agent option.  

Tip

Working with Scenario Architecture on your London project

London Architects Your London project

Our boutique studio specialises in residential architecture, offering bespoke services for home additions, renovations and new-builds. Based in Wandsworth, we practice across London and beyond.

A RIBA Chartered Practice, Scenario complies with the UK’s strict health and safety criteria. We collaborate closely with our clients throughout every stage of the process, from the design phase, through planning and construction. We aim to deliver every project on time and on budget.

Our skilled team works with the latest 3D design technology: real-time digital visualisations and virtual reality. We feel they are the most effective and efficient tools for seeing through our work, choosing fittings and simulating natural light.

This Chartered Institute of Building case study features a recent Scenario project, demonstrating the benefits of advanced technologies in designing for the domestic sphere.

Working with Scenario Architecture on your London project

Established in 2007, Scenario Architecture is a boutique architecture studio focused on the high-end residential sector, working extensively throughout and around London. We specialise in every scale and type of domestic project, from interior alterations, through full renovations and refurbishments to new build homes. We offer a full bespoke architecture service tailored to fit your requirements and aspirations.

Our friendly and highly skilled team has the knowledge, experience and expertise necessary to take you step-by-step through the challenging and exciting journey of creating your new home. We will work together with you in close collaboration from initial design, through detail design and planning all the way to tender, construction and successful completion of your project on time and within budget.

Scenario Architecture is an RIBA Chartered Practice, which essentially means that we are compliant with the RIBA (Royal Institute of Chartered Architects) strict criteria, covering insurance, health and safety and quality management systems.

As early adopters of latest technology, we use as a standard for all projects a verity of innovative 3D design and visualisation tools to create and communicate design with our clients. Our experience shows that Real-Time visualisations and Virtual Reality tours are extremely powerful tools to streamline the process of choosing material finishes fixtures and fittings as well as simulating realistic natural light conditions.

When we produce accurate and reliable construction information we use the latest 3D BIM technology, (BIM stands for Building Information Modelling) which means that all project information is derived from a single accurate and coordinated 3D model. Using this cutting-edge technology collaboratively with other consultants as well as contractors has proven to save time and cost for our clients.

A case study featuring one of our projects was published by the Chartered Institute of Building, demonstrating the great benefits of this advanced technology specifically with domestic projects.

Scenario Architecture in London deliver design and architectural expertise for residential projects. We were established in 2007 by Ran Ankory and Maya Carni who both trained with the AA School of Architecture. Scenario have grown to an award-winning team of nine. We have been featured in Dezeen and Elle Decoration UK.

Our highly experienced team of architects Stoke Newington work with clients using innovative 3D and Virtual Reality technology that simulates your new home before the first brick is even laid. This simulation technique allows you to see beautiful scenarios, designed to fit your life. An organic process, it often influences the choice of materials and design methods.

If you are looking for a top architects London, we can help with your project. We are a RIBA Chartered Practice and we operate across the following areas and postal districts: Camden, Dalston, Hackney, Hampstead, Highgate, Haringey, Islington, East London, Knightsbridge, Kensington and Chelsea, Mayfair, Notting Hill, North London, West London, West Hampstead, Shoreditch, Southwark, Stoke Newington, N1, N6, NW3, N16 and E5.

Start your London project

Full-width extension opens to the beautiful garden of this Victorian property

Complete renovation and extension of a family home

A glazed roof draws daylight deep into the plan

Scenario is an established architecture practice focusing on contemporary residential design. We take on projects of every scale and scope, from home refurbishment, renovation and expansions to new-builds.

Victorian renovations are more compassionate today than they’ve ever been, with homeowners striving to preserve architectural elements like decorative cornicing, ceiling roses, skirting boards and dada rails. Sash windows are being replaced by specially made wood reproductions and wood-burning fireplaces recouped after being sealed off for decades. Paint companies like Farrow & Ball have built multinationals out of replicating the de rigueur colours of Victorian times. And new tile ceramicists are bringing back traditional motifs with contemporary silhouettes, for front gardens and foyers. Hardwood floors have made a comeback, with timber salvage and reproduction going strong.

Most renovations focus on transforming the core of the home, and revolutionise the kitchen and bathrooms in the process. To recoup the extra floor area today’s families have become accustomed to, London architects are extending into voids in the lofts and side returns common in Victorians. Small period kitchens can open up into the side return without eradicating period features; in the recovered space, a corner can be reserved for a powder room or utility room. Ditto the loft: pushing up the ceiling and pushing out dormer windows can make new space available for an en suite bathroom.

With extending out into dead space comes the welcoming in of natural light. Upward-facing Velux windows become possible once the upper floor is properly extended and the main floor pushed out beyond the confines of the original footprint. If a second-storey extension is permitted in your plans, an internal void can bring natural light from the top floor downwards, and vice versa.

London Architects In our clients words

We wanted to renovate our house in a conservation area in central London. Given this involved a complete demolition and new build with an extra floor on top, getting planning approval was always going to be tricky. Scenario did an amazing job on the new house 'envelope' and throughout the planning phase. We couldn't have wished for better from them and having succeeded in gaining planning approval owe them a very big 'thank you'.

---

Scenario designed a kitchen extension for us, and we are delighted with the results. The process was well organised, planned and delivered, and the whole team were a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend them for their design, planning and project management skills.

---

Worked with these guys on the internal development of our office. From start to finish they were great. They got what we wanted first time and really made working with them very easy. Their aftercare has been great too helping us deal with something that they were not involved with in the first place. Will highly recommend them to anyone. See all Google reviews

Working with Scenario Architecture

Our boutique architecture practice specialises in home expansions of every scale and complexity. We offer a truly bespoke service, collaborating with homeowners on every stage of the process, from the initial designs to the project’s completion.

All our architects are fluent with the latest 3D design and visualisation tools. They use real-time visualisations and virtual reality to choose finishes and fixtures, maximise living space and simulate natural light. Our construction information comes from accurate 3D building information modelling (BIM) technology that saves the client time and money. This case study from the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) demonstrates the benefits of advanced technology for domestic architecture. Scenario is a RIBA Chartered Practice, complying with the strict health and safety measures of the Royal Institute of Chartered Architects.

In our client's words

Dalston is less a defined London territory than it is a neighbourhood of like-minded people. Roughly defined in the west by the A10, the city’s oldest Roman-dug road, it floats between Clapton, Hoxton and Islington. But more than its geographical location, it expresses itself with its liberal, tolerant, international attitude.

The working-class population that first settled here in the 19th-century, rippling out from the Regents Canal, converted farmland into industrial sites and small Victorian cottages. They were joined by immigrants from multiple countries and religions, together building up a modest community outside the confines of the City of London. After a postwar slump, the neighbourhood came alive toward the end of the last century. Artists began settling here, spilling out from Hoxton and Shoreditch, seeking inexpensive post-industrial workspace, artistic freedom and places to exhibit their art. As per the rules of gentrification, young professionals and families followed. They’ve transformed the old warehouses, factories and stables into appealing and spacious homes. And in the brownfields between them, architects have designed experimental contemporary homes, creating housing where none existed while pushing the boundaries of their craft.

Live-work spaces, purpose-built apartment blocks and modern terrace housing have sprung up among the historic brick and contemporary timber constructions, giving the neighbourhood a dynamic and unpredictable character. People of all cultures and brackets live side-by-side, and businesses are popping up to serve them. They combine to make Dalston an area of great potential, for people who seek a multicultural atmosphere and an unconventional lifestyle.

If you’re a fan of heritage housing, look to the streets radiating east off Stoke Newington High Street and Kingsland Road. Streets like Forest Road and Richmond Road, leading to Gayhurst Community School and London Fields, are chock-a-block with tall, broad Victorian family homes and repurposed factories. With the old brick and ironwork maintained, new residents are slowly fixing them up and maximising their potential. Further north, Shacklewell Lane, Sandringham Road and St Marks Rise are attracting new buyers to the grand tree-lined streets. Homes here rise to four storeys, many of them in need of an upgrade. Buyers seeking a fixer-upper, or a tired family home on which to put a personal stamp, would have lots of opportunity here. At the heart of this enclave sits St Marks Dalston, one of the largest neighbourhood churches in the country – larger in area than Southwark Cathedral. Its Gothic rose window and French-inflected tower, built a century ago, dominate the road.

Loft extensions are more of a rule than an exception in Dalston, as are side-return kitchen extensions. Local architects like Scenario are well versed in the expansion and renovation process here, and manoeuvre their designs successfully through the planning and heritage departments. The results are often stripped-back, light-filled versions of the original Victorian architecture, offering vast entertaining spaces and private nooks for growing families.

Further Reading

Basement conversions have got a bad rap over the years, from households digging down multiple levels and edging dangerously close to their neighbours’ property lines. These “mega-basements”, or so-called iceberg houses, cause controversy for their deluxe features, like swimming pools, cinemas, wine cellars Turkish baths and car parks.

Building below street level can significantly increase the size of a home where conservation laws restrict expanding up and out. And new rooms below the main floor almost always make financial sense in high-value areas like London. But the more commonly sought and approved versions seek to enlarge an already existing coal hole or cellar. Even the most basic below-ground extensions will cost the same as a loft conversion, yet they’ll provide far more space for the outlay – most basement conversions in London start at about 40 square metres in size, growing to nearly 200 square metres.

Most basement conversions will require local Building Regulations approval, a sign-off from the neighbours and savvy planning. As most existing subterranean spaces lack any significant head height, most require excavation and underpinning. The height of the water table and location of sewer drains are an issue. And if the space lacks any access to light, a lightwell, an opening in the home’s entryway or glazing in the interior stairwell will need to be considered. If your basement conversion forms part of a larger all-over renovation, you can fold the assessment and application costs into your overall budget. All that aside, converting a basement makes sense for families that intend to stay put and use it. Anyone looking for extra storage space, a separate playroom for growing children or a tucked-away space for utilities will find all these can be covered off in a single excavation. A well-planned basement can be the difference between staying in a beloved city home or leaving for the outskirts.

To make the most of your investment, you’ll want to consult an architect well versed in the local building codes and permissions protocol, and experienced in converting the vernacular architecture. If your home dates back more than a century, an architect that deals in period properties will be able to assess ballpark costs and potential risks with a single meeting. A good architect will be on hand throughout your project, overseeing quality control and serving as a liaison until the basement is properly executed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Planning a basement conversion project? Here’s what to expect and eight design considerations.

If you find yourself wanting more living space but unable to move to a larger property, a basement conversion may be the perfect solution to gain extra space.

If your home has unused or unfinished basement space, converting it into a new living space can be a great way to increase the value of your home and expand the square footage of your home to accommodate family, friends, or out of town guests.

Depending on the room’s size and layout, your options for using the space will vary. A large, open space can be divided into several smaller sections for a bonus living room or game room and also incorporate a kid’s play area or extra office. Smaller basements may be a good size for adding on another bedroom or bonus room. Other basement uses include a fitness or sauna area, a nanny or in-law suite, in-home movie theatres, and even a swimming pool!

Planning your conversion

The first step in converting the basement is to have an architect create a design to achieve the outcome you want. When choosing an architect, ensure you’re working with one that is well versed in the local building codes and permissions protocols. Nearly all basement conversions will require navigating the planning permissions process through the local council. Depending on the extent of the renovation, you may also need additional building regulation approvals.

Take your time to do some research on potential design ideas. For a project of this size, it’s critical to consider all the factors ahead of time and be confident in what you want or don’t want from your architecture renderings. The more specific you can be in the early stages of the project regarding measurement, design, and features, the more likely you’ll be to avoid extra costs down the road.

Once you have your design in hand and an experienced architect on your site, you’ll be able to plan the timeframe for the project, establish a budget, and plan for other tasks like waterproofing the space. Depending on the size of the project and the extent of the basement conversion, most projects will take anywhere from 12-24 weeks to complete. Thankfully, most people can remain in their home during the project as most builders will create and use a separate entrance/exit to access the space.

Next, you’ll want to do some double-checking of the basics before you get into building something new. You may want to add plumbing and wiring to your basement, including a separate bathroom, depending on the size of your home and intended use of the basement space. Check on existing systems to see what expansions and upgrades need to be addressed before construction begins. Converted basement spaces often require added insulation to protect against noise and help regulate the temperature.

Addressing other sometimes overlooked issues like ensuring windows for fire safety and exits, proper ventilation, and considering adding a sump pump in the house is located in a place where groundwater could be a moisture threat are all items that should be considered early in the renovation process. And remember that moisture isn’t just a potential indoor issue. Install diverters to send gutter water at least 10 feet from the foundation and slope soil away from the foundation, as well, to prevent any flooding or moisture seeping in from the outdoor spaces. It’s also essential to have a professional check fuel-burning equipment and your house's ventilation system to ensure that you won't have carbon monoxide buildup below grade.

Design considerations

Try to configure the space with as much natural lighting as possible by either enlarging windows or adding a glass-door walk-out area.

When choosing artificial lighting, opt for warm lights in ceiling fixtures and lamps to create a cosy atmosphere. Can lights are also great choices as they provide a significant amount of light but fit neatly up in the ceiling and accommodate nicely for lower ceiling heights.

Choose light paint colours that make the room feel more expansive

Greys, beiges and even whites are popular paint choices for basement areas that often feel cramped or closed in when dark colours or busy wallpaper patterns cover walls.

Use partitions instead of adding new walls, where possible

For basement spaces with low ceilings, adding new walls might make the area feel even smaller. If the new living area is a multi-use area, using attractive and moveable partitions will help keep the space feeling bright and open. Another solution here is to build half-wall dividers or walls with window cutouts so that light can penetrate the interior.

Upgrade the electrical components

Many basements do not include sufficient electrical outlets, so homeowners should factor this into the project in the early stages.

Think long term

While you might not have children at the time of construction, building in an additional area for a playroom or jungle gym will allow you to plan for the future and be an attractive selling point when you are ready to sell the home. Long-term planning also applies to other features like mini-kitchens, laundry areas, and additional bathrooms.

Get smart about storage

Get creative with storage by using a pull-down Murphy bed in the bedroom area, built-ins for bookshelves or games, and window benches to hold extra linens or blankets.

Add a private entrance

A basement walkout is a must for homes that have enough outdoor space for a door and walkway. This additional exit from the basement is an excellent feature if you’re considering using the area for a renter or guests that would appreciate their own entrance/exit.

Don’t forget the stairway

Basement stairs tend to be narrow and dark, which will take away from your newly renovated living space. Add a sturdy handrail, additional lighting, and freshen up wood stairs for a great first impression into your freshly converted basement.

Basement conversions are a huge undertaking but one of the best financial investments a person can make in increasing the value of their home and the enjoyment of their living space. Working with an experienced architect from the very beginning will take much of the stress out of the process and ensure you have trusted guidance from start to finish.

How To Get Planning Permission For Conversion Projects

If you’re ever hoping to ever improve your home and turn it into something a lot prettier and more valuable, then a conversion will always be an option that is popular with the majority. This option will not only help you regarding awkward and restrictive planning policies but will also inject a lot more zest and good looks to the exterior and interior.

On the surface, turning one area into something entirely new might seem pretty straightforward – there are a few bumps in the road, however. Let’s have a little chat about what planners allow and what options are available going forward.

The Kinds Of Conversions Around

There are plenty of different kinds of properties that can be turned into something new and extraordinary. Whatever you can think of, there will be an opportunity to convert and change things around. Chapels, schools, pumping stations, equestrian buildings, and so many others will be allowed to be worked on. Pretty much every type of building could be capable of conversion into a unique contemporary home.

The Basics Of Planning This Kind Of Work

All kinds of conversion will require some kind of planning. Some will benefit from permitted development rights (PD rights), however. This means they’re able to go ahead without the need for a formal planning application. It’ll be pre-approved, provided that the scheme meets certain criteria already.

PD rights are rights to convert the likes of agricultural buildings and offices. This determines the suitability of a building for a conversion, a procedure known as Prior Approval is involved. This means you’ll have to submit a form to the council in the same way you would with a planning application. The considerations by the council regarding Prior Approval are more limited, however. They’ll take into account the transport, highway, noise, flooding, contamination, and if the location itself is suitable. The external appearance and whether it changes a little too much will also matter. You’ll also have to make sure the internal rooms will have enough natural light.

If a planning application is required, then it has to be in detail. The application has to cover both the physical work and the change of use to residential property. The building will have to be capable of being converted with an extension or a rebuild.

Whenever you assess a project, you have to take into account the access, the garden, outbuildings, and parking areas.

Projects That Require Formal Plans

With regard to converting the likes of a rural property, PD isn’t the only route. If your project isn’t allowed via the parameter set, you’ll be able to make an application for full planning. The chances are that your district council’s Local Plan will possess a policy that handles conversions of all kinds.

A lot of local plans have a bias towards the reuse of rural businesses and other business properties for business purposes. This includes tourism-related uses like holiday lets, in preference to residential conversions. With that said, it’s often necessary to demonstrate that alternative uses wouldn’t be viable as part of the justification for conversion to a dwelling. Plenty of other policies require marketing to take place for a while in order to prove there’s little-to-no demand for non-residential use.

The Possibilities And Pitfalls Of Conversions

When submitting a conversion application, you have to send in a structural survey in order to show that the building is able to be worked on with a rebuild being necessary. A lot of the time, there will be structures that are either too decrepit or too flimsy for this to be possible. The likes of rural buildings can provide a habitat for protected species, and any application to convert is likely to be accompanied by a survey that will determine their presence. The presence of things like bats wouldn’t typically be enough to prevent a building from being converted – it will likely add time and cost, however.

Another awkward instance in this regard comes from the fact that contaminations may appear – especially if you’re in the countryside and on farms or industrial land. Again, surveys and analysis will take place in order to determine the right steps, which will, again, add to the fee and add more time to the project.

Design Considerations

When converting an old building, the council will want to preserve as much of its original character as possible. This will include the limiting of inserting new structural openings and avoiding things that disguise it from its original form and purpose. What’s acceptable depends entirely on the likes or dislikes of the council’s design and conservation team. It would be wise to check out other conversion permissions in nearby areas to see what has been approved in the past. Some will want things to be kept very similar, and others might be a little more lenient in terms of styles. If you have a particular style in mind, you should do what you can to look for a building in your area that is likely to be accepted.

Consent And Conditions

Even if things are approved and ready to begin, you will still have to deal with plenty of conditions along the way. It’s common for restrictions to be imposed further on down the line, too. The council will look to achieve this by removing permitted development rights regarding extensions and alterations to the building – as well as the right to put up outbuildings in the garden.

With the removal of PD eligibility, it doesn’t mean you cannot do things at a later date – it does mean, however, that you’ll have to get planning permission for them. Remember also that, when converting, you’ll have to make sure you don’t demolish anything that you do not have permission to remove.