Bacon Street

Structural limitations led to the development of an ingenious lightweight solution to the extension of this iconic contemporary concrete and glass house, built in the 1990s by architect William Russell as his family home, when he was working in partnership with David Adjaye.

The new owner required increased upper level living space, linked to a new roof-top garden with city skyline views. The limited capacity of the existing foundations precluded forming the new structure completely in the in-situ concrete of the existing house. This was though used for the extended stairway, creating visual continuity, whilst lighter steel & timber were utilised for the 3rd floor enclosure and rooftop extension.

New clear glass and etched glass panels, manipulated to deal with natural lighting, outlook and privacy, retain the striking cubic ‘lighthouse’ aesthetic of the existing building.

Landscaping input was provided by specialists Urban Roof Gardens.