Steel framed rear extension to a Grade II listed home in Chelsea
The refurbishment needed to expand and improve the internal layout without losing the character of the listed terrace. Its long, narrow plan also meant the new rear extension would be visible through the kitchen and living rooms, making the glazing an important part of the interior as well as the garden elevation.
The response was a steel-framed glass box that combines traditional framing proportions with contemporary thermal performance. Glazing bars give the fixed panels and opening door a consistent pattern, while overhead glass introduces daylight beyond the vertical garden-facing openings.
Keeping the addition at the rear preserves the street view. Within the new enclosure, the coordinated steel detailing gives the extension a distinct architectural identity without replacing the character of the original house.
Steel casement door integrated with the fixed glazing
A slim steel casement door provides direct access to the terraced garden, which serves as an outdoor dining area. The opening also provides natural ventilation to the extended living space.
The door repeats the glazing bar layout of the surrounding fixed panels. This maintains the Art Deco pattern across the elevation, allowing the opening element to sit within the wider steel-framed composition rather than appear as a separate insertion.
Slim profiles preserve views through the extension from the kitchen and living rooms, while the expressed framing complements the darker accents within the refurbished interior.
Four-pane glass roof with coordinated steel supports
The extension’s glass roof is divided into four panes connected by structural silicone joints. This introduces overhead daylight while retaining the frameless rooflight appearance.
Steel beams align with and conceal the silicone joints, carrying the framed character of the walls into the roof. The support arrangement is therefore part of the architectural composition, not a detail concealed at the expense of the intended Art Deco design.
Combining overhead and vertical glazing allows light to enter from more than one direction, supporting the enlarged living space within the narrow terrace.
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