Don’t Move, Improve

We are delighted to have one of our projects exhibited in the New London Architecture’s (NLA) Don’t Move, Improve! exhibition.

NLA, in association with RIBA London, the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) and media partner Elle Decoration holds a competition each year to find the best and most innovative home refurbishments/extensions, small office conversions and interior design in London.

The competition seeks to find the best ways to create more space to live and work in London, and is open to architectural practices, interior designers and members of the public who have completed extensions or refurbishment projects in London within the last three years.

“The shortlisted … projects on display demonstrate a wide range of solutions to create more space at a variety of budgets which show that sensitively designed extensions can be positive additions to the townscape…”
12 Highcroft by Ruth Butler Architects. Don’t Move, Improve! at the NLA 2011.

Our client’s house refurbishment project 12 Highcroft – Camden has been shortlisted and exhibited.  The NLA said:

“12 Highcroft – Camden is a 1960’s mid-terrace house remodelled to create light and voluminous spaces for flexible family living, with far reaching views over Hampstead Heath from a new roof terrace.

Situated on a tight site, only 4m x 8m and with no garden, there was no opportunity for extension so an inventive remodelling of the interior space was required.  The original garage space has been converted into a generous cooking / eating space, with a double-height gallery giving volume and visual links to the living room above.

A new two-storey high glazed screen to the rear of the house floods the interior with daylight and winter solar gains, while a mature oak tree in the yard behind the house provides shading from direct summer sunlight.  Access to the outdoors is enhanced by sliding-folding doors, which open up the entire width of the house.  In addition, the original flat roof has been converted into a large rooftop terrace.

The roof and all external walls have been insulated (the original home had no insulation) and a new A-rated condensing boiler with weather compensation fitted, in line with the Code for Sustainable Homes.”

…’Moving house is not cheap’, says Ruth Butler. ‘A reasonable estimate of the cost is about 10% of the price of the property you’re selling. That means if you live in a three-bedroom house worth £300,000 and decide to move into the identical three-bedroom house next door, you’ll pay around £30,000 on fees, stamp duty, legal costs, removers and the rest.”

Hazel Butler says… ‘When adding space, the finish is everything, so make it the best quality you can afford. Also remember that building regulations have recently changed and properties undergoing work are now assessed on their total energy efficiency. I can help explain what this means for your project.