Introduction
The soft hue and texture of clay combined with a vibrant pallet of colours makes this space both relaxing and joyous at the same time
Umfreville Road is a charming terraced Victorian house in Finsbury Park, featuring a small outrigger kitchen that opens to the rear garden. Our brief was to extend the house at ground level, creating a bright and colourful kitchen at the heart of family life.
The project’s green credentials are primarily unseen. The primary structure predominantly uses timber where feasible, with the envelope consisting of engineered timber framing and wood fibre insulation, all factory-cut and delivered as a kit of parts. This breathable construction is also airtight, thanks to membrane and tape systems, ensuring a warm and comfortable living space.
The design incorporates natural building materials, showcasing beautiful textured clay wall finishes, a polished pink concrete floor, and a bespoke hand-stained timber kitchen. The result is a serene yet uplifting space, enhanced by the vibrant tastes of our wonderful clients and an abundance of natural daylight.
Reducing our impact
Victorian homes often come with compact kitchens, located in the narrower outrigger, which many homeowners wish to expand through side and rear extensions. These extensions typically involve significant demolition and structural changes to support the upper levels of the outrigger.
At Outpost, we start by exploring whether we can meet the client’s needs without extending, or with the smallest possible extension. When extensions are necessary, we aim to minimise their environmental impact by rethinking standard approaches.
Standard Approach
Traditionally, side and rear extensions require:
- Demolition of walls and existing foundations
- Installation of extensive steel frames.
- Replacement with mass concrete strip foundations.
For a typical project, such as Umfreville Road, this approach would emit around 1125kg of CO₂ for the primary structure.
Standard Approach
Our Improved Approach
For Umfreville Road, we:
Retained and reused the existing brick foundations wherever possible.
- Minimised new concrete foundations.
- Replaced steel beams with engineered timber flitch beams.
- Designed walls using timber I-joists with timber fibre insulation for high thermal performance.
The result:
- A reduction to 700kg CO₂ as emitted from any new steel and concrete
- 300kg CO₂ sequestered in timber and insulation
This reduced the total embodied carbon impact to 400kg CO₂, a significant improvement from the standard approach.
Small, thoughtful changes can make a big difference in reducing the carbon footprint of home extensions while maintaining structural integrity and performance.
Our Improved Approach
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Project information
Project Location
London, Finsbury Park
Project Type
Residential, Refurbishment & Extension
Clay Supplier
Concrete Floor Supplier
Ceramic Lighting Supplier
Photography
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