Kensington

Set within the garden elevation of Edwardes Square, the extension is conceived as a glass box. A simple idea, resolved with care. Designed by Richard James Hastings Architecture and built by NTJ London, it does not compete with the existing house. Instead, it allows light, proportion, and material honesty to take precedence.

The architecture is reduced to its essentials. Vertical glass, a plane of roof glazing above, and the finest possible lines to hold it all together.

To one side, a full-height pane of structural glass meets the roof without visible interruption. The junction is deliberate. Glass meeting glass. No frame to announce itself. Just a continuous surface, quietly holding the edge of the space.

Above, the roof glazing performs differently. It is less about view, more about light. Daylight is drawn down into the plan, softening the interior and changing throughout the day. Morning light arrives gently. By afternoon, the space feels brighter, but never harsh. The glass moderates rather than dominates.

The structure that makes this possible is largely unseen. Steel sits behind the scenes, doing its work without expression. The visible language remains consistent. Clean, restrained, almost absent.

The opening to the garden is resolved through a 3m high aluminium framed pivot door, forming a precise and considered threshold within the glass box.

It is not treated as a feature in its own right. Instead, it completes the composition. A single, well-proportioned panel, aligned carefully within the opening. The framing is minimal, finished in a dark tone that allows it to sit quietly within the transparency of the glass.

When closed, the garden remains visually present. When open, the threshold softens. The transition is not abrupt. It is gradual, almost unnoticed, as inside and outside begin to overlap.

There is a discipline to the specification. The glazing is engineered to perform, but without compromising clarity. Low-emissivity coatings manage heat and light, ensuring the space remains comfortable across the year while preserving the softness that defines it.

There are no gestures for attention. No excessive detailing. Just a series of precise decisions, layered carefully, resulting in a space that feels calm, balanced, and complete.

The glass box does not try to transform the house in a dramatic way. Instead, it alters how it is experienced. Light travels further. Boundaries soften. The garden becomes part of the room.