A full extension of a basement terraced house, with interior renovation and refurbishment to a high standard.

Polysmiths was appointed by a private client to undertake a rear extension and full interior renovation and refurbishment of a 2-bedroom apartment flat in Kentish Town, Camden London.

Climate Change means that, according to the Mayor of London, at least 200,000 properties in London alone are at risk of surface water flooding, most are residential basement flats.

Polysmiths seeks to redefine the basement home renovations, breathing new life into a 2-bedroom basement apartment in North London – a space that was once dark, damp and uninhabitable.

The project resolves multiple conflicting requirements, including how to extend, insulate, flood-proof, and bring light into a basement apartment, while maintaining as much precious garden area as possible.

The result is ‘Walden’ in the city: referencing naturalist novel by Henry David Thoreau, it is a cabin-like residence bathed in natural light, built using light-weight and natural materials, and enveloped by a lush green garden. It serves as an example of retrofit that is purposeful, sustainable, and with character.