Harefield Road
East House
Harefield Road East - A planted courtyard
sits centrally within the ground floor
plan, offering an integral urban oasis to a
South London semi-detached house. The
client, a family of three, had just returned
after living for a period of time in Sydney
when Gruff Architects were approached to
refurbish and extend their Victorian semi
in South London. Keen to recreate the
benefits of the outside lifestyle and warmer
climate they had experienced abroad, whilst
10 - www.refurbandrestore.co.uk
incorporating their mixed heritage into the
design, the client instilled Malaysian, British
and Australian influences into the brief.
Set in the Brockley Conservation Area, the
extension includes a kitchen, utility and
dining space for the family and focuses on
creating a connection to the leafy garden.
Gruff’s design focuses on a centrally planted
courtyard which sits between the original
house and new extension, connecting the
two elements together and bringing natural
light and soft planting into the heart of
the building. Working with Michael Coley
Garden Design, the planting features neutral,
evergreen and hardy plants for longevity
as well as larger pieces to add focus,
such as the tree fern. Toward the rear of
the extension, a section of corner glazing
further punctures the centre of the building,
allowing direct sunlight and more visible
planting to enter the floor plan.