About Extending Victorian Houses With Scenario Architecture
It was during the Victorian era that London became the great modern city that it remains today. Victorian architects gave London its charming streetscape and wealth of gracious residential terraces, popularising the use of red brick and steep, ornate gables. Yet as much as we still covet this archetypal London style, most Victorian houses lack the loftiness and openness we crave today. Fortunately, most London boroughs will allow a sympathetic extension to a Victorian house, provided it does not interfere with the original front aspect.Scenario takes a fresh, inventive approach in expanding and revamping Victorian properties. Founders Ran Ankory and Maya Carni, graduates of London’s Architectural Association, have built an extensive portfolio of completed residential projects throughout London, and a RIBA-chartered practice on top of the latest methods and technology. They see the city’s most diverse residential neighbourhoods as their backyard.With more than a decade’s experience in adding vaulted spaces and graceful curves to classic Victorian homes, Ran and Maya have earned their place as London architects of choice: changing the architectural landscape house by house. Their work has been published in Elle Decoration, Dezeen, Houzz and Ideal Home.Their landmark project Scenario House, a Victorian terrace house with a double-height extension in Stoke Newington, was shortlisted for several prestigious architecture awards, including the 2018 RIBA London Awards. It demonstrates Ran and Maya’s unique, considered approach to domestic architecture.A beautiful, highly functional home is the product of a deep understanding and precise analysis of each homeowner’s unique lifestyle. This philosophy is evident in Scenario’s work, where every tailor-made extension tells the story of our clients, not our own.
Designing the Perfect Victorian House Extension
A well-planned Victorian house extension can transform a property, adding space and modern functionality while respecting the charm of Victorian architecture. Every project can seamlessly blend the old and new, whether it is a loft extension, a side return extension on a Victorian terrace, or a wraparound rear extension. Many Victorian properties benefit from generous high ceilings, period features, and a layout which can be adapted to modern living. Extensions are ideal for creating a generous kitchen, additional rooms, a home office or a new living space, often enhanced with natural light through glass extensions or contemporary glazing. Thoughtful design of your extension ensures a careful balance between old and new, preserving the Victorian character while introducing modern interiors and features. Whether in a conservation area or a part of the home in need of modernisation, a well-executed extension or conversion can expand living space, increase value and realise your dream home. By collaborating with the right specialists, it’s possible to create a unique Victorian home extension that complements the original architecture while seamlessly integrating modern technologies for comfort and style.
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
If you’re considering an extension to a Victorian house in London, we’re here to help. We’ve created a brief illustrated overview to help you understand each stage of the process. Most Victorian extensions require planning permission from the local council. With our successful record of securing planning permission on behalf of our clients, we can claim home advantage across residential London.
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.
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.
Focal Shift fire place, first project as local architects in Hackney E9
The Scenario House, Stoke Newington during NLA Open house event
Tip
Working with Scenario Architecture on 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.
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.
London Architects
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.
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
In our client's 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.
Further Reading
Scenario Architecture is a boutique architecture studio focused on high-end residential projects in and around London. We tackle domestic projects of every scale and complexity, from Victorian extensions and refurbishments to full renovations and new-builds, through our bespoke architectural service.Our friendly, experienced, highly skilled team can take you step-by-step through the challenge of designing your Victorian extension or renovation. We’ll collaborate closely with you from the initial drawings, detailed design and planning through to tender and construction, and to the successful completion of your project. We are always on time and on budget.Scenario Architecture is a RIBA Chartered Practice. We comply with the strict criteria of the Royal Institute of Chartered Architects, covering insurance, health and safety and quality-management. As early adopters of the latest technology, we use 3D design and visualisation tools as a standard for all projects. Our experience shows that real-time visualisations and virtual reality are extremely efficient tools for choosing finishes, fixtures and fittings, and simulating natural light.We also use 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) to produce reliable construction information, so that all our project data comes from an accurate, coordinated 3D model. Using this cutting-edge technology collaboratively with consultants and contractors has proven to save homeowners time and money.A Chartered Institute of Building case study featuring a Scenario project demonstrated the great benefits of this advanced technology for domestic architecture.
Expanding Victorian Homes with a Skilled Architect
Victorian houses account for one-sixth of all homes in the UK and are ideal candidates for expansion thanks to their small kitchens and poky rooms. Extending Victorian properties has become one of the most common practices in the country.In some cases, an extension of only a few metres can open up a space dramatically, particularly if your design integrates into the adjoining rooms. A side-return or rear extension can create an eat-in kitchen or a greater, open room in the place of three smaller, darker spaces. It can allow for a kitchen island or peninsula where counter space was at a premium, or clean, uncluttered walls where cupboards and uppers crowded the room. In a typical Victorian terraced house, a side-return extension has the greatest potential for transformation relative to cost. Meanwhile, a loft conversion uses existing space by pushing out the roof to its utmost point with dormer windows. An extended loft can incorporate two small bedrooms and a bathroom, by continuing the plumbing from the first floor bathroom. Or it can create a master oasis with an en suite bathroom and enough room for a home office or dressing area.Many Victorian homes, particularly in London and surrounding market towns, sit in conservation areas with strict planning regulations. Applying for a Victorian extension in one of these areas can be fairly straightforward, provided the project respects the traditional architectural elevations. On top of this, you’ll have to undertake a Building Regulations application to make sure your design complies with national standards in fire safety, ventilation, plumbing and structural integrity. Better architects have relationships with most building and planning commissions and will be able to tackle these responsibilities for their clients.When you’re searching for an architect for a Victorian extension, your first point of contact should be their website. Review the architect’s past and ongoing projects to ensure that Victorian home extensions are within their expertise. If you are a fan of period features, look to see that those have been preserved in the architect’s past work, and try to see past the furnishings and fixtures to the structural work. A great architect goes beyond the conventional features typical of Victorian extensions created by design-and-build contractors. In a typical Victorian terrace house, there are many ways to design ‘out of the box’, push up ceilings to rooflights, bringing in light with soaring voids and open stairwells, and creating private nooks and built-in furnishings, all without losing the home’s period appeal.An architect is far more than a background figure with a drafting board. A skilled architect is actively involved throughout the entire extension process, coordinating with trades and authorities alike, from the first sketches to the day you move in.
