The ground floor of this town house in the Stoke Newington district of London had disconnected spaces, a failing glass-enclosed room, and limited connection to the outside.
CAN Architecture’s challenge was to create a cohesive, functional, and nature-inspired home that reflects the client’s priorities and embraces sustainable design. But it had to wait for the garden first. For that, CAN taped landscape design firm GRDN.
“Unusually they completed the garden before we started the build so we could design our extension to perfectly take advantage of the garden and focus on the right views,” says Mat Barnes, CAN director. “This allowed us to design the extension to perfectly frame the garden, focusing on the most compelling views.”
The Verdant House features a custom-built curved glass window and an oversized glazed door that flood the interior with natural light and create a seamless transition to the lush west-facing garden. Overhead glazing, positioned to maximize light while maintaining thermal comfort, further emphasizes the home’s openness.
Efficiency was high on the clients’ priority list. CAN ensured the new walls were super insulated so that that the visual openness to the garden doesn’t compromise thermal performance. CAN also incorporated sustainable materials such as the glulam structural frame, which significantly reduces the building's carbon footprint compared to conventional steel, and reclaimed bricks from the demolition. Hemp fiber corrugated cladding not only offers durability but also ages beautifully, enhancing the home’s organic feel.
The client's vision for a home that mirrors nature is reflected in the color choices.
“We focused on a timber-led material palette with breathable limewash paints,” Barnes says. “A tight color palette of green, brown, and grey seamlessly ties the design to the garden.”
The flexible layout of Verdant House adapts to the changing needs of the family. The living space can transition between an open communal area and smaller, more private zones with the use of full height hemp fiber curtains and Douglas fir shutters.
The light-filled kitchen is the heart of the home featuring a roof light supported by bolted trusses, combining functionality with aesthetic appeal. The kitchen cabinetry blends IKEA units with bespoke fronts crafted by CAN, made from chiseled oak boards stained in a rich, dark linseed oil finish.
To enhance the sense of openness, CAN lowered the floor level in the extension by about 8 inches , subtly transforming the space without major structural changes. The flooring itself adds another layer of interest, with alternating tones of oak boards arranged in a striking stripe pattern.
“We wanted each element to stand on its own and continue the rich textural quality throughout the space,” Barnes says. “The clients don't have much stuff on their walls, so we wanted the elements to work as features on their own without the need to put up artwork.”
