Within a five-minute walk of Craven Cottage, home of the Fulham Football Club, is a property that, like many other houses in Fulham, was built without much regard to the value of natural light indoors. On the other hand, the garden was bigger than those its terraced neighbours. The young couple who lived in the ground floor flat thought that, with a little invention, their home could be transformed with more space, more light and far better use of both.
They approached Architects Andrew Dobson Architects for some ideas.
The proposal required not one but three extensions: to the rear and both sides of the existing rear annex - something of a challenge for the planners at the Hammersmith & Fulham Borough Council. After consideration, permission was granted but, before work could start, a party wall surveyor was brought in to inform and sweeten the affected neighbours to the side and above the flat.
The three extensions provided a much more functional space with an open-plan kitchen integrated with a dining area and living room. Each of the extensions were fitted with large skylights the brighten up the interiors. The garden shielded most of the traffic noise of busy Fulham Palace Road so that, even when the bi-folding doors into the garden were open, there was an air of relaxed tranquillity.
The three bedrooms were re-designed, two with en suite, to provide greater convenience, a more efficient use of space and plenty of storage.