About Scenario Architecture’s Approach To Victorian Renovations
It was during the Victorian era that London became the great modern city that it remains today. Victorian architects gave London its unique streetscape and wealth of grand residential terraces, popularising the use of red brick and steep, ornate gables. Yet as much as we still covet this architectural London style, most Victorian houses lack the loftiness and openness that we crave today. Fortunately, most London boroughs will allow sympathetic Victorian renovations, provided they do not interfere with the original front aspect.Scenario takes a fresh, inventive approach to revamping period properties. Founders Ran Ankory and Maya Carni, graduates of London’s Architectural Association, have built an extensive portfolio of Victorian renovations 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 Victorian renovations have featured in magazines such as 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 every client’s unique lifestyle. This care and thoughtfulness shows in Scenario’s work, where each tailor-made extension tells the story of the owners, not the architects.
Enhancing Your Victorian House Renovation
Victorian house renovation projects require a careful balance between preserving the original features and introducing modern comforts. Whether you are renovating a Victorian home, undertaking a full house renovation, or breathing new life into a Victorian terrace, the goal is to retain the character that makes Victorian properties so distinctive. From restoring a grand fireplace or repairing sash windows to reimagining layouts for modern living, each renovation is an opportunity to showcase period details while enjoying contemporary comforts. . An architect experienced in Victorian renovations can guide you through challenges such as working in a conservation area, managing renovation costs, and designing sympathetic house extensions like a side return or a rear extension. Whether you plan to renovate a Victorian house in a classic Victorian style, transform a semi-detached Victorian villa, or adapt the rooms in a period building for modern living, thoughtful design ideas can help you create a dream home that celebrates Victorian architecture and interiors. With careful planning, attention to period details such as stained glass and high ceilings, and the right guidance, your home can beautifully blend Victorian charm with the practicality of modern living, creating a Victorian house renovation that stands the test of time.
Projects
Full renovation of a family home, exploring the connection between living spaces
The Scenario House, Stoke Newington during NLA Open house event
Your Victorian Renovation project
If you’re considering a Victorian renovation in London, we’re here to help. We’ve created a brief illustrated overview to help you understand every stage of the process. Most Victorian renovations require planning permission from the local council. With our successful record in 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
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.
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 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 interior alterations and refurbishments to full renovations and new-builds, through to our bespoke architecture service.Our friendly, highly skilled team can take you step-by-step through the challenge of designing your Victorian renovation. We’ll collaborate closely with you from the initial drawings, design and planning through to tender and construction 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 systems.We are early adopters of the latest technology, and we use innovative 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 use 3D building information modelling (BIM) technology to produce reliable construction information, so 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 our clients time and money. This Chartered Institute of Building case study featuring a Scenario project demonstrates the great benefits of this advanced technology for domestic architecture.
Reviving Victorian Homes For Modern Living
Why do Victorian renovations feature so prominently in the British homes showcased in magazines and advertisements? Their tall, sturdy and generously proportioned structures make them appealing and practical family homes, with plenty of nooks and crannies to adapt. Many also sit on ample plots, offering the opportunity for thoughtful extensions.The reign of Queen Victoria saw the biggest building boom in the country’s history. In less than 75 years, the UK built more than six million homes, and the majority are still standing today. They range from Gothic, Tudor and Jacobean revival to Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau, often arranged in the classic terraced formation. Their layouts set a standard for residential design, creating a blueprint of proportion, flow, and elegance that still guides how we build homes today. Victorian renovations are far more compassionate today than they’ve ever been, with homeowners striving to preserve architectural elements, like decorative cornicing, ceiling roses, skirting boards, dado and picture rails. The sash-window industry is still going strong, with many 20th-century plastic versions falling out of favour. As central heating became commonplace, successive residents often sealed off or removed fireplaces, making the notion of a hearth in every room seem unnecessary. Today, homeowners are restoring these traditional features, adapting them for gas use and framing them with luxurious marble mantels. Farrow & Ball has built a global reputation for recreating the quintessential colours of the Victorian era, while tile makers are reviving classic motifs for front gardens and foyers. Meanwhile, reclaimed wideboards allow floors to echo the knotty oak and pine cherished by Victorian craftsmen, bringing authentic warmth and character back into these homes. Most changes among Victorian renovations come in the hardest-working areas, like the kitchen and bathrooms. Recouping space in the loft or side return has become a common strategy for homeowners of Victorian houses, often creating the opportunity to add new plumbing and utilities. Smaller period kitchens can extend into the side return without compromising the home’s original character, while the newly gained space can accommodate a toilet or utility room. Similarly, in the loft, raising the ceiling and extending dormer windows can create enough room for a well-appointed en suite bathroom.When extending into unused or “dead” space, it’s essential to maximise natural light. Upward-facing Velux windows can be installed once the upper floor is extended and the main floor pushed beyond the original footprint. If a second-storey extension is included in your plans, an internal void can channel light from the top floor downwards, and vice versa, creating a bright, open atmosphere throughout the home.
