Renovating
5 Inspiring Projects on the ‘Don’t Move, Improve!’ Shortlist
Tour some of the exciting renovations by Houzz professionals shortlisted for the 2023 residential design awards
Every year, the Don’t Move, Improve! awards, organised by New London Architecture, celebrate London-wide home renovations that showcase innovation, cost-effectiveness and creativity. The judges are looking for both liveability and creativity, and our pick of five from the 15-strong shortlist illustrates the variety of ways pros on Houzz have risen to the challenge.
From a low-energy refit and a vibrant extension to a garden building carefully constructed around mature trees, these cleverly reworked homes are an inspiration to any of us craving extra space, sustainability and functionality.
From a low-energy refit and a vibrant extension to a garden building carefully constructed around mature trees, these cleverly reworked homes are an inspiration to any of us craving extra space, sustainability and functionality.
Ben is a Passivhaus designer and passionate about low-energy buildings. He built the rear extension in highly insulated SIPS (structural insulated panels) and says “all existing building elements achieved a Passivhaus standard U-value of 0.15 or better”.
But the changes weren’t at the expense of aesthetics. Ben stripped the ceilings back to expose the beautiful timber and has used calming natural materials including limestone, oak and lime plaster. The full-height window at the back frames lush foliage.
But the changes weren’t at the expense of aesthetics. Ben stripped the ceilings back to expose the beautiful timber and has used calming natural materials including limestone, oak and lime plaster. The full-height window at the back frames lush foliage.
The beautiful materials continue on the first floor, with a bathroom vanity unit made from oak set against a fluted limestone wall, and a Douglas fir bed frame and flooring in the bedroom.
The project is inspiring for anyone with a typical residential home. As the Don’t Move, Improve! entry explains, “Low Energy House is a test case for what can be achieved with a retrofit of an ordinary terrace house on a small budget.”
The project is inspiring for anyone with a typical residential home. As the Don’t Move, Improve! entry explains, “Low Energy House is a test case for what can be achieved with a retrofit of an ordinary terrace house on a small budget.”
Leafy views create a sanctuary in the city
Walled garden house, Stockwell, by nimtim Architects
Anyone who’d love to create a sanctuary from our busy world might enjoy the ideas in this renovation.
The team at nimtim Architects extended this Victorian two-storey flat and refreshed the garden with the aim of linking inside and out through natural materials, leafy views and abundant daylight, which the homeowners say makes them “feel so much more connected to the seasonal changes”.
The garden can be seen from deep within the ground floor kitchen-diner, but also from the bedroom on the first floor, where a large window and balcony invite reflection.
Walled garden house, Stockwell, by nimtim Architects
Anyone who’d love to create a sanctuary from our busy world might enjoy the ideas in this renovation.
The team at nimtim Architects extended this Victorian two-storey flat and refreshed the garden with the aim of linking inside and out through natural materials, leafy views and abundant daylight, which the homeowners say makes them “feel so much more connected to the seasonal changes”.
The garden can be seen from deep within the ground floor kitchen-diner, but also from the bedroom on the first floor, where a large window and balcony invite reflection.
The team have very much worked with the existing building, and used materials to connect the spaces – principally natural timber and exposed brick, which links with the old garden walls.
A natural plaster was used on all the new walls, softening the light. The stainless-steel kitchen contrasts with these materials and also helps to reflect light at the back of the room.
A natural plaster was used on all the new walls, softening the light. The stainless-steel kitchen contrasts with these materials and also helps to reflect light at the back of the room.
Outside, the original sunken garden has been revived and planted with ferns and ornamental grasses amid the dappled light beneath established trees. Two seating areas separated by a wildlife pond create peaceful places to sit and unwind.
Cork provides attractive, breathable insulation for a Victorian house
Breathable House, Waltham Forest, by Mike Tuck Studio Architects
Damp is a common problem in period houses and this Victorian terrace was no exception. With humidity inside around the 75% mark, the building was in need of a thermal upgrade.
The team at Mike Tuck Studio Architects approached the problem by looking at the fabric of the building and introducing as many natural materials as possible. One of the solutions was solid cork blocks on the outside of the extension.
Breathable House, Waltham Forest, by Mike Tuck Studio Architects
Damp is a common problem in period houses and this Victorian terrace was no exception. With humidity inside around the 75% mark, the building was in need of a thermal upgrade.
The team at Mike Tuck Studio Architects approached the problem by looking at the fabric of the building and introducing as many natural materials as possible. One of the solutions was solid cork blocks on the outside of the extension.
The cork, which sits on a terrazzo plinth, allows the house to ‘breathe’. This, along with other measures, including removing pebble dash and introducing natural materials such as timber and lime plaster, has removed the damp and high humidity.
The Douglas fir window at the back of the kitchen is divided into three to break up the proportions, create some privacy and form a window seat. A large glazed door helps to further connect the new kitchen-diner to the garden and brings in more light.
A garden building is designed to fit around established trees
Banya and Garden Studio, Camden, by Cooke Fawcett Architects in collaboration with Black & Milk
This garden room and traditional Russian-style sauna and plunge pool very much had to fit in with the existing plot. Consequently, sloping roofs, walls angled to skirt trees, and larch wood cladding feature strongly and help the structure to sit discreetly in the landscape.
The team at Cooke Fawcett have used mini pile foundations to minimise the impact on roots on the sloping site and ensured the trees will have space to grow.
Banya and Garden Studio, Camden, by Cooke Fawcett Architects in collaboration with Black & Milk
This garden room and traditional Russian-style sauna and plunge pool very much had to fit in with the existing plot. Consequently, sloping roofs, walls angled to skirt trees, and larch wood cladding feature strongly and help the structure to sit discreetly in the landscape.
The team at Cooke Fawcett have used mini pile foundations to minimise the impact on roots on the sloping site and ensured the trees will have space to grow.
Inside, the garden room is cosy, with underfloor heating and a small wood-burning stove for chilly days. The wood-clad walls merge into the leafy views from large sliding doors and this wraparound window.
There’s also a kitchen area, table and sofa in the garden room. Together with the sauna in the second building and this outdoor plunge pool between the two, there’s really little incentive to return to the main house at all.
Prefab panels give a young family a bright extension
CLT House, Waltham Forest, by unknown works
The use of cost-effective and sustainable cross-laminated timber (CLT) in this innovative project by unknown works has given a modest midcentury semi-detached house bold character. Externally, yellow-painted render covers the extension, while inside, the walls and ceiling are clad in calming natural spruce.
The ground floor was reworked to open it up and create space for the family’s creative pursuits and sociable gatherings. For the extension, the team used prefab panels, which were assembled on-site in four days. The dining area in the new space is separated from the original living room by a peaceful internal courtyard (just seen at the back of this shot), accessed via sliding doors.
CLT House, Waltham Forest, by unknown works
The use of cost-effective and sustainable cross-laminated timber (CLT) in this innovative project by unknown works has given a modest midcentury semi-detached house bold character. Externally, yellow-painted render covers the extension, while inside, the walls and ceiling are clad in calming natural spruce.
The ground floor was reworked to open it up and create space for the family’s creative pursuits and sociable gatherings. For the extension, the team used prefab panels, which were assembled on-site in four days. The dining area in the new space is separated from the original living room by a peaceful internal courtyard (just seen at the back of this shot), accessed via sliding doors.
The cubic front porch is also painted banana yellow. Its gently rounded edges soften the structure, while the rain chain means there’s no need for a bulky downpipe.
The exposed internal structure gave the architects the opportunity to create reading nooks and storage spots within the extension, along with a kitchen and dining area.
Skylights set in the structural grid of the ceiling, as well as recessed lighting tracks, wash light down the walls, gently highlighting the beautiful grain of the pale timber.
To see more photos of these projects, check out the Don’t Move, Improve! 2023 shortlist.
Tell us…
Which of these projects is most inspiring to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Skylights set in the structural grid of the ceiling, as well as recessed lighting tracks, wash light down the walls, gently highlighting the beautiful grain of the pale timber.
To see more photos of these projects, check out the Don’t Move, Improve! 2023 shortlist.
Tell us…
Which of these projects is most inspiring to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Low Energy House, Muswell Hill, by Architecture for London
It’s often said the first thing you should do to save energy in a home is improve the ‘fabric’ of the building. In this inspiring renovation of a tired, damp and dark Edwardian terrace, owner and architect Ben Ridley, of Architecture for London, made numerous upgrades, from fitting triple glazing and adding insulation to simply making his original front door more airtight with inexpensive brush seals and a magnetic letterbox seal.