This project involved the sensitive transformation of a detached cottage in Totteridge through the addition of a new basement level, executed with meticulous care to preserve the character and proportions of the existing building. Achieving this required the delicate process of temporarily lifting the original structure onto a system of stilts, allowing the new basement storey to be seamlessly integrated beneath the home.

The central challenge of the project was the precise “plug-in” integration of the basement. This required a careful balance of structural engineering and architectural design to ensure both stability and harmony with the bungalow’s existing form. Every element, from the alignment of floor levels to the treatment of natural light and circulation, was considered to create a space that felt inherent to the original design rather than an added afterthought.

The result is a basement that maximises usable space while maintaining the integrity and proportions of the cottage above. This intervention demonstrates how innovative engineering and sensitive design can combine to expand a property without disrupting its character, delivering a solution that is both functional and visually unobtrusive.