Home renovation

The client wanted to keep the Japanese-style room as a memory of the house designed by his father (his late father), also wished to adapt it to their current lifestyle, which at first glance seemed to be a contradictory desire. They also wanted to have a space with outside where they could spend time with their friends, using camping equipment and other hobbies. In addition, they wanted to improve the current faint darkness of the living and dining rooms. Nacasa&Partners/Miyuki Kaneko Nacasa&Partners/Miyuki Kaneko The Japanese-style room on the southwest side of the serial room was lowered one level from the normal level to create an earthen floor space and a place to stay, and the existing traditional Japanese-style room... More

The existing house was tired, narrow, lacking in natural light and a sense of space. We developed a scheme to bring light down from the large ground floor window in to the previously dark lower ground floor with a large glass sliding door system to connect to the rear garden.   Simone Bossi The lower ground floor has become the principle living space, with a muted tone kitchen. The original chimney breast continues up through the void – giving a sense of height and drama – with views back up to the ground floor spaces.  Simone Bossi At ground floor, the formal living space becomes a mezzanine style space – overlooking the key living areas below.  Simone Bossi Steel balustrades are found at... More

McLaren Excell received planning approval for the substantial redevelopment of a Grade II Listed town house in Brompton Square, Knightsbridge. Despite Kensington and Chelsea’s stringent approach to all planning submissions, we achieved approval for a new-build mews house and extension at the rear of the property and the addition of two new-build floors on top of the original town house.   Simone Bossi We were approached by an international property developer from Hong Kong with an open brief to maximise the potential of the site. Over the past thirty years, the house has been unsympathetically modernised with the addition of a third and fourth floor above the main house and a kitchen and garage extension to the rear with a... More

Evolving a prior JCB residential project, Laneway Terrace is the result of the client acquiring a neighbouring property to expand their large family home. Derek Swalwell The existing dwelling on site was a dilapidated, brick terrace with a significant heritage listing. The client was committed to reinvigorating its history while creating a mix of indoor/outdoor entertaining and room for guests. Derek Swalwell The carefully restored heritage building and single storey addition now extend back along the adjacent laneway. A large operable wall opens to the laneway, activating and celebrating the previously vacant public space. Derek Swalwell Derek Swalwell Removal of the boundary fence between the dwellings creates a lar... More

Designed for a changing family circumstance, Beaconsfield Parade House is a considered design outcome dedicated to togetherness, cooking and entertaining.A contemporary addition to the existing heritage frontage makes a positive contribution to the Middle Park streetscape. The varied topography of roofscape forms mirror an engaging sequence of interior spaces. Derek Swalwell Derek Swalwell The extension recognises the programmatic requirements of three generations including a young adult, a grandparent and between-generation parents, finding their own space and identity in the one home. Derek Swalwell Battened timber curves form the interior volumes, creating fluid spaces that connect and integrate the old and new and insid... More

Located in the heart of Yokohama, Rokakubashi is a famous shopping district characterised by a strong modernist appearance, typical from the Showa Era (1926-1989). The buildings in the area share a relatively small size and compose a human-scale situation with the above-mentioned commercial units and the residential ones. Akira Nakamura Given this context, the 60 year-old Rokukakubashi House stood out for its mint green outer wall and the decayed state in which it laid for quite some time. From the outside, the only notable change is the removal of the hut just outside the entrance door and the fence that delimited the property from the public street. These changes were meant to make the house more attractive from the outside. Addit... More

Renovation of two houses on the same plot. Each with a somewhat different aesthetic, but clearly 'related'. We created levels of privacy through the positioning of windows, entrances and white wooden dividers. The materiality of both houses is re-used, especially when it comes to the exterior. The covered terrace we created on the back of the main house is supported by a brick fire place and has exposed structural beams and supports; a design feature also seen in the interior of the houses. Caption Caption The front house is connected to the street and has an open plan kitchen and living space, with enough storage and a mudroom. Materiality was a focus in working with the clients. Adding colour, warmth and openness throughout the... More

A young family of four came to us to update an original 1950's California Ranch home nestled above The Mesa. With a modest budget and an owner savvy in both construction and design, we were able to renovate the existing house and add an additional 600 SF of usable living space, including a new two car garage and full master suite with a wall of glass looking out in the yard. The interior of the existing house was opened up to allow a free flowing space from through the main kitchen, living, and dining areas. Leading out to the owner designed rear yard is a large glass sliding wall, defining that indoor/outdoor connection California is known for. White finishes and cool woods lend a Scandinavian appeal to this classy and minimal space.  More

This extension project builds on a classical siding and roof structure Hamptons / North fork house. We added a flat roof contemporary 2nd/ floor, bringing a much needed master bedroom suite that is solely concentrating its views toward the sea. The large windows create a portal allowing for an immersive experience of living on the coast, directly enjoyable from the bed. Several elements of the house have also been upgraded to provide a better experience: a new entrance pavilion, an art storage garage and a guest house in a small nearby pavilion. More

Re-a.d worked on renovating and designing an extension to the existing French country home, preserving its character in a contemporary approach. Also by adding a garage for the hobbyist, Re-a.d extended the use of the existing house. More

Preserving an existing, classic craftsman residence on a spacious lot in Seattle, the Hybrid team added much-needed density to the lot by designing six townhomes and one additional, modern private residence.  More