Dulwich House
Located within the heart of the Dulwich Estate, Dulwich House is an extensive whole house refurbishment project with contemporary rear extension.
| Client | Private |
| Budget | Undisclosed |
| Type | Domestic |
| LPA | Lambeth and Dulwich Estate |
| Status | Completed |
We were approached by our client in 2023 who were already local to the area and had just purchased the property with huge potential to make into their forever home.
The compact two storey terraced house was in need of modernisation and our client wanted to open up the existing ground floor to create a more free flowing and open plan social space for the family.
As is typical of this dwelling typology within the Dulwich Estate, the first floor contained two generous sized bedrooms but a small box bedroom and bathroom with separate toilet. Our brief at this this level was to increase the internal daylight levels, incorporate clever storage solutions, and increase the size of the small box room into a useable bedroom space.
The key to unlocking the first floor was to completely reconsider the entrance sequence and remodel the existing staircase.
This created more space at first floor to increase the box bedroom depth while inserting a modern/bespoke staircase that relinked ground and first floor. This also provided an opportunity to add a number of rooflights into the existing roof above the circulation area that is now bathed with natural daylight and sunlight as this tracks around the property.
At ground floor a modest extension to the rear creates additional floor space to facilitate the large open plan kitchen, dining and living area. Full width bi-folding doors greatly enhance the connection with the rear garden, which was lacking in the original plans, with the new polished concrete floor flowing from inside to outside creating a unified social space when the doors are fully opened.
A small utility area, with separate toilet, provides a transition space between a new office space to the front which can be either opened or closed off from the main kitchen, living and dining area.
The interior concept is influenced by a rich mid-century architectural material palette comprising exposed Iroko beams, exposed plywood, polished concrete, limewash painted walls, against rich and contrasting coloured joinery. The internal joinery is the binding element between each room while providing much needed functional storage alongside integrated desk and seating areas.
The reconfigured bathroom at first floor has been completely renovated and is finished with micro-cement to the walls and floors. Textured solider course tiles and a contrasting red Kast Concrete Basin add further interest.
Externally the new masonry walls forming the extension are matched to the existing bricks, with recessed joints, and a staggered brick arrangement to create additional depth.
A wet cast stone parapet spanning the full width crowns the extension with large bi-folding doors that extend past the ceiling line to the underside of this.
We worked closely with Dulwich Estate throughout the design process to agree the strategy for the replacement external windows and timber cladding.
Marjoram Architects delivered the project from RIBA Stages 1–6, working closely with our clients and specialist suppliers to realise a cohesive and carefully crafted home.
The project was completed in 2025 with our client back in and fully enjoying their upgraded mid-century modern home with their young family.
