Jax House

A late Victorian two-storey semi-detached house in the Mapledene conservation area, close to London Fields, was reworked for clients who wanted a stronger connection between the ground floor and their rear garden, along with a refined master suite upstairs.

Because of the property's width the existing rooms are well proportioned, so the brief focused on rearranging the kitchen, dining area and adjoining ground floor spaces and, where possible, extending to the side. A simple glass-infill extension takes advantage of a narrow strip of land along one elevation, opening the rear reception room to the garden and pulling natural light through the plan from both sides.

At the back of the house a set of minimalist sliding doors forms a floor-to-ceiling contemporary bay window across two-thirds of the rear elevation. This move mirrors the geometry of the upper floor and leaves space alongside it for a casement window above the kitchen sink. The original exposed brick external walls have been retained as a significant internal feature; the Victorian fabric and the new extension remain clearly legible against each other.

Outside, the garden has been planted with perennials, roses, bushes and shrubs to provide a lush setting and a continuous view from inside. On the upper floor the rear-facing rooms have been transformed into a generous master suite, with a shower room clad in dark grey terrazzo and fitted with solid brass fixtures.

The wider refurbishment included a new family bathroom serving two double bedrooms to the front, new windows, a new heating system and radiators throughout, a complete rewire, and upgraded insulation.

Architect: Paul Archer Design. Contractor: Concept Linear. Photography: Will Pryce.