How we made a house bigger but the energy bills smaller

Bookcase House

How we made a house bigger but the energy bills smaller


EPC Energy Rating	Increase from E(49) to B(81)
Floor area added	19%
Book Capacity	110 linear metres, more that the length of a football pitch

Mulroy Architects have transformed the appearance and performance of a drab suburban house in north London by sweeping away earlier adaptations, and introducing a series of new extensions and alterations to accommodate the owners’ busy family lives.

From the street, Lanchester Road appears as a typical 1930s house. Appearances are deceptive however: the left hand bay is entirely new, replacing an unsightly garage with a new two-storey side extension containing a gym and bedroom above. To the rear of the house, however, the real drama unfolds. Earlier extensions have been replaced with a new extension that reads as a series of interconnected pavilions, each with a slender brick frame supporting full-height glazing that fills the family living area with light and gives views over the garden.

The kitchen, located at the centre of the new ground floor arrangement, features a bespoke table for daily family dining and flows seamlessly into a much larger dining room. This in turn can be enclosed to create a more intimate atmosphere, thanks to deep pocket doors set within a feature library wall. The kitchen overlooks a lofty and airy living area beneath, occupying the lower level of the house and featuring a spectacular double-height bookcase and reading gallery. A large bedroom suite has been added in an expanded top floor extension, with a balcony overlooking the landscaped gardens. In total, Mulroy have added an additional 68 sq.m to provide an overall 429 sq.m home, while respecting neighbouring properties and its quiet suburban setting.