Located within the Canonbury Conservation Area in the London Borough of Islington, our Canonbury low energy renovation project is a comprehensive refurbishment and extension of an end-of-terrace Victorian villa originally built circa 1848. Following decades of previous alterations and interior dilapidation, our design seeks to restore the building’s historical grandeur while transforming it into a refined, high-performing contemporary family home.
Key Architectural Highlights
Heritage-Led Restoration: The street-facing principal elevation has been meticulously preserved and repaired. Historic single-glazed windows have been upgraded with high-performance slimline double-glazed units designed to respect the proportions of the original Victorian fenestration.
Contextual Reinstatement: Informed by historic maps and archival analysis, the design partially reinstates the first-floor side extension and original rear floor plan configurations that were lost during past modifications in the 1970s.
Subterranean Expansion: A carefully planned new basement sits beneath the existing garage and extends subtly under the front and rear garden footprints, unlocking generous, light-filled living spaces while strictly adhering to local conservation area spatial guidelines.
Seamless Rear Living: Extensions at the lower ground and ground floor levels open up the rear of the property to the landscaped garden, utilising expansive glazing and sliding doors to establish a fluid dialogue between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Materiality and Craftsmanship
Complementary Brickwork: To maintain the architectural integrity of the terrace, Imperial Handmade Bricks (yellow stock) were selected for the new side and rear extensions, matching the tone and texture of the historic brickwork.
Textural Detailing: The design pairs the retained existing slate roof and repaired brick facades with stone-coloured rendering and a vibrant green roof over the lower rear extension, anchoring the modern interventions within their verdant setting.
Sustainability and Environmental Performance
Aligning with Islington Council’s vision for the borough to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030, the project adopts a fabric-first approach to radically improve the thermal performance and energy efficiency of the historic structure. Sustainable interventions include:
Comprehensive external wall insulation and loft insulation.
Advanced under-slab insulation at the lower ground floor.
A centralised Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system to ensure superior indoor air quality and energy conservation.
A biodiversity-enhancing green roof system.