Scope
Location: Surbiton, London
Completion Year: 2016
The Surbiton project involved extending the ground floor of a family home to create a modern, spacious living area that seamlessly integrates with the outdoor garden space. The design focused on maximizing natural light and functional living with stylish, contemporary aesthetics. In response to the family’s need for a more expansive and versatile living area, VORBILD Architecture embarked on a transformative journey to extend and revitalize an outdated kitchen into a vibrant heart of the home. The project entailed a 3.5-meter extension to the rear of the house, incorporating a new kitchen, dining, and living space. The newly configured area features full-width sliding doors that lead to a beautifully designed patio and elongated garden, enhancing the connection between indoor and outdoor living. Above, strategically placed skylights and tall glass panels on either side of the kitchen flood the space with natural light, echoing the family’s desire for a bright and airy environment.
Design Highlights
The kitchen boasts high-gloss white cabinets, built-in appliances, and a central island with a white quartz worktop. A bespoke dining bench attached to the island, finished in oiled oak with a dark blue base, stylishly defines the space between the kitchen and dining area. By installing multiple light openings, including two roof lights and side tall glass panels, the design ensures that every corner of the extension is imbued with natural light. The layout promotes a fluid transition to the outdoor patio, providing additional living space and a natural extension of the home’s interior.
The project involved securing planning permission and meticulously selecting materials that complement the existing structure while introducing modern elements that resonate with contemporary design trends. The choice of long, engineered oak floorboards laid vertically further accentuates the spatial flow from front to back, subtly enhancing the perceived depth of the extension. This extension has transformed the way the family interacts with their living space, providing a functional, integrated area.
In keeping with the ethos of sustainable design, VORBILD Architecture incorporated energy-efficient solutions such as wet underfloor heating, which provides consistent and efficient temperature control throughout the space. This heating solution avoids the clutter of radiators, maintaining the sleek lines and open feel of the extension.
The dramatic transformation from the outdated kitchen to a multifunctional and stylish space is documented through a series of before and after photographs available on the project page. These images not only showcase the meticulous detail of the craftsmanship but also illustrate the effective use of space and light that characterizes this extension.
