Chamfer House, North London
Extension & refurbishment of an Edwardian home
Status - Built

Modern residential building with brick and metal exterior, large glass windows, and a garden with flowering plants and ornamental grasses.

This project involves the full renovation and extension of an Edwardian house, comprehensively reconfigured and expanded with a sculptural rear extension and a new loft addition. The design delivers a flexible, light-filled home, including an enlarged ground floor, an additional bedroom, and two new bathrooms. 

The rear extension is carefully shaped with a setback that reinforces a clear axial view from the front door to the garden, resolving relationships with neighbouring structures. A gently chamfered roof responds to this geometry, forming a canopy over a secondary rear entrance and creating a distinctive contemporary form.

A restrained palette of contextual materials includes soft pink tumbled brick and a folded pre-cast concrete parapet, adding definition to the rear elevation. Internally, this palette continues with polished concrete flooring and full-width steps that define spaces and enhance spatial flow.

The zinc-clad loft extension features a generous Juliet balcony. Together, the additions create a cohesive and dignified garden-facing elevation.

Modern dining room with brick walls, wooden dining table and six chairs, large sliding glass doors leading to backyard with patio, small outdoor table, green plants, and trees.
Modern kitchen with beige cabinets, blue lower drawers, a white countertop, a potted plant, open shelving with bowls and jars, and a brick accent wall.
Modern dining area with a wooden table and six chairs, featuring a bowl of apples, surrounded by large windows and a patio with potted plants and outdoor furniture.
Modern house entrance with a glass door, brick walls, and outdoor plants including purple flowers and ornamental grasses, leading to an interior space visible through the glass door.
Modern kitchen with blue cabinets, beige upper cabinets, a white countertop island with a gold faucet, pendant lights, and a brick wall outside.
Exterior view of a modern brick house with large glass doors, a white overhang, and golden ornamental grasses in the garden.

Publications

The project has been published in Architects Journal

Modern brick house with large glass sliding doors, small garden in foreground with ornamental grass and flowering plants, neighboring brick houses visible in reflection.

Project Team

Architects / Novak Hiles Architects
Client / Private
Main contractor / TMP Build
Structural Engineers / Symmetrys
Interior Design / Novak Hiles Architects


Photography by Novak Hiles Architects

Awards

2021 / NLA Don’t Move, Improve! Awards - Featured