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The lower ground floor of this 19th century tenement flat in Stockbridge had previously been converted to accommodate a kitchen and a series of internal rooms. The rooms were not habitable due to the lack of daylighting and ventilation. Substantial structural alteration works were therefore undertaken to open up the basement level.
The evolution of the design included the desire to make the most of the south facing aspect of the lower ground floor. Previously, the sunny rear garden could only be viewed from the kitchen window. The existing floor level was much lower than the external ground level and so a decision was taken to build a raised timber floor with access to the garden through a set of French Doors. The kitchen was pushed deep into the plan on the lower level, with a newly formed dining area connecting it to the rest of the space. The main living space on the ground floor was relocated to the elevated garden floor level, which has a much more pleasant outlook and also frees up the previous lounge to form a new double bedroom with en-suite.
The entrance hall on the ground floor has also become a feature space. The new staircase down to the lower level is enclosed with repointed stonework walls, complimenting the material quality of the hand-made oak stair. This adds to the wow factor of the flat as you come in from the common stair.
The layout of the flat now has a much more logical flow, with some well-thought out engineering helping to realise the potential of the downstairs space.