Description

A curved ceiling leads up to a large roof window to wash this new kitchen with natural light in this Crouch End (London) kitchen side extension called Ogee House by Bradley Van Der Straeten Architects.

Externally, a restrained palette of recycled bricks are playfully arranged while extensive natural oak joinery, battening and flooring create a simple and rich internal palette.

Questions & Answers

How is the project unique?

The curved ceiling along the side of the existing ceiling and up to the new glass roof. We had not seen any other designs like it when we proposed it, we are seeing a few imitations now!

What were the key challenges?

To make the new space feel as spacious as possible without eating up too much of the valuable garden space.

What was the brief?

To create a new open plan kitchen and dining space for the family, with an open connection to the garden.

What were the solutions?

As the side extension area is north facing it provided an opportunity to use a lot of glass without risking overheating. We couldnt increase the height of the existing kitchen ceiling but we curved the edge of it up to the new glass roof window to bring more light in and make the area feel more spacious.
To connect the garden we created a seamless physical connection from inside to outside by extending the kitchen to create a timber clad garden storage area.

Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?

A family with two young boys. The clients were very keen on having a timeless space and not over complicating it with materials. That is why we focused on natural light and a simple material palette