London Townhouse Orangery

This impressive light weight orangery has been built on top of the existing masonry garden room of a Chelsea townhouse overlooking the rear garden.

The second storey area was previously a roof terrace used for occasional social soirees when the British weather allowed.  This homeowner wished to turn the terrace into an all-weather space in order to make the most of both the house and the fantastic views.

Great care was taken to ensure that the extension reflects and responds to the character of the existing house and the fact that it sits within a conservation area. This was achieved through the scale and form of the extension which respects that of the existing building, indeed the modest scale of the development sits comfortably within the context of the main house, and is clearly subservient in this respect.

The fenestration ensured that the extension’s glazing not only matches the horizontal levels set by the top and bottom of the existing windows at 1st floor level, but also vertically between levels. The quality and detailing of the design has thereby preserved, and indeed enhanced the appearance of the building when viewed from the rear.

It is now a light, bright, all-year-round room with a bar area, informal seating and plenty of space to house his collection of antiques. The French doors open on to a small balcony offering uninterrupted views of the expansive garden below and an iconic London rooftop landscape.