WANSTEAD VILLAGE

We restored a Victorian house in the Wanstead Village Conservation Area with an extension that offers diverse vistas and seamless connections to the landscaped gardens, enriching the overall experience.

European larch timber cladding to the exterior of a rear extension at a Victorian house restoration project in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
European larch timber cladding of a rear extension with a tranquil courtyard view, framed by a picture window at a home restoration project in Wanstead Conservation area - Rees Architects
Methodical craftsmanship in precise timber joist measurement, precision-cut, and seamless alignment European larch extension cladding to a home in a conservation Area in Wanstead Village - Rees Architects
European Larch timber-clad rear extension with polished concrete floors at a property within the Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architecture
 
Stepping stones amongst the landscape, off-black painted restored garage and original bricks at a renovation project in Wanstead Conservation Area - Rees Architects
European Larch timber clad extension and side courtyard of a Victorian property in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects

WHAT’S THE SHOWPIECE?

Undoubtedly the European Larch timber-clad rear extension, which seamlessly feathers into the building and is the result of intricate design and craftsmanship. There are no blunt edges, each individual timber joist was measured three times and laser cut, and the nails are lined up to perfection, creating a stunning piece of architecture that looks and feels as though the home is cocooned in a nest.

Skylights and picture windows harmonise with the levels and vast space of the extension exposing original brickwork. An up-and-over window creates shadows throughout the day at a deep retrofit project in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
Internal views that show the subtle connection between the old house and the new extension with an open plan and polished concrete floors at a redesign in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
Bespoke joinery houses a piano through a redesign of space. Polished concrete flooring and lots of natural light at a renovation to a period family home in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
In the study, natural light from skylight above highlights precise joinery that aligns oak-faced ply shelves with the picture window installed at to the refurbishment of a victorian era house in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
Bespoke ply joinery and storage, reading nook and picture window with a neutral palette to a rear extension of a listed building in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
The open plan family kitchen is located in the original part of the Victorian house, illuminated by natural light from various directions featuring European oak herringbone wood flooring at a property in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
Fluted glass on the internal kitchen sliders, lots of natural light and a floating island to show the polished concrete floors at a Victorian restoration project in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
Client collaboration introduced a floating island with long sweeping views of the polished concrete floors at a deep retrofit to a Victorian property in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects

ANY CHALLENGES?

Circumnavigating a global pandemic required us to be dexterous around supply issues and soaring costs, but working closely with the clients and builders ensured the project ran smoothly. As gas prices increased, we redesigned original plans for the fireplace and saved a quarter of the costs by installing a sustainable bioethanol fireplace that burns so cleanly, it’s the future of fireplaces. You don’t need a flue, so the heat stays in the room rather than losing half of it up the chimney. It’s also a beautiful focal point in the room.

Original stained glass windows show how period details are restored at a Victorian property in Wanstead conservation area enhanced with painted panelling, European oak herringbone flooring and natural light - Rees Architects
 
Client collaboration meant reduced costs with a sustainable bioethanol fireplace which acts as a focal point within the living room with oak herringbone flooring within a family home in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
⁠Bespoke joinery in the living room, an integrated bio ethanol fireplace with walls painted in quality, sustainable matt finish paints at a Victorian property in Wanstead conservation Area - Rees Architects
 
In the utility room the polished concrete floor, basin, and worktop make for a durable, yet slick and contemporary feel with a neutral colour palette at a family home in the Wanstead conservation are - Rees Architects
A redesign of space to a period property transforming part of the kitchen into a utility room with a bespoke concrete basin and polished concrete floors at family home in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
Monochrome design in the utility room with a large bespoke poured concrete basin listening to the client and their needs with the family dog at a redesign an d retrofit of a Victorian property in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
Original stained glass windows and period features are complimented by a floating staircase allowing lots of natural light at a renovation project to a Victorian home in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
A floating staircase cleverly links the first and second floors by allowing light to flood seamlessly between the original stained-glass window below and the new rooflight above at a renovation project in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects

FAVOURITE DETAIL?

The floating staircase cleverly links the first and second floors by allowing light to flood seamlessly between the original stained-glass window below and the new rooflight above. Our ethos is about celebrating the space where contemporary meets traditional. We also created a special, subtle connection between the old house and the new extension by exposing some of the original brickwork and installing a sweeping, up-and-over window that creates stunning shadows throughout the day.

Curved architecture, an arched ceiling and full-width mirrors in the bathroom of a Victorian era family home in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
Curved architecture, an arched ceiling, concrete basin, brushed gold hardware, white marble wall light and sleek black tiles within a redesigned bathroom at a family home in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
The master bedroom and en suite with bespoke timer-clad headboard and curved architectural walls into terrazzo finished flooring at a redecoration to a Victorian period home in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
Echoing the extension's cladding narrative in the master bedroom, a slatted timber headboard with built-in LED lighting and pendant light in the master bedroom of a family home in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
Curved corners of the en suite, brushed gold ironmongery. Limewash paint, marble, concrete and brass materials kept the palette and textures natural at a deep retrofit to a Victorian house in Wanstead Conservation area - Rees Architects
Terrazzo flooring, sustainable limewash wall paints and a marble basin contribute to the neutral colour palette of the master bedroom ensuite at a Victorian Era refurbishment project in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
Bespoke joinery in the master bedroom dressing room, with custom built dressing table on the inner window ledge and a neutral colour palette sustainable paints at a Victorian redesign project in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
The dressing area separated by a pocket door for privacy is made bespoke with a timber picture window and built-in floating desk at a redecoration project in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects

AND THE SMALL THINGS?

Transforming a boxy understairs WC into a considered space we added curved architecture, an arched ceiling and full-width mirrors that allow the room to truly sing. The smart joinery solutions throughout may seem simple but they were an integral part of the early design - from sliding storage and discrete LED lighting to create intimacy in the living room, to integrating air conditioning units into the aesthetics and using the exact angles of the house to create bespoke oak-faced shelving in perfect symmetry to the office picture window. Attention to detail, no matter how small, is what elevates a Rees Architects project to something special.

Continuity of arches in the bathrooms with a curved mirror, sustainable wall paints, white jasmine vanity worktop, solid oak vanity, sleek white tiles and brass pendant light at a historic property in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
A simple white aesthetic allows appreciation to diverse materiality and textures without colour. Sleek off-white tiles and terrazzo flooring at a renovation project in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
 
Rear extension exterior evening illumination with polished concrete patio carried through from internal to external spaces yielding connection and fluidity at a renovation project in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects
European larch timber clad rear extension exterior illuminated at dusk by warm tones of the bronze internal wall lights at a rebuild of a family home in Wanstead conservation area - Rees Architects

 IN THE PRESS

Our Wanstead Village project was recently featured in Enki Magazine. Read the full feature here.

Previous

EAST DULWICH
Next

ISLINGTON