Jake Ireland received an award in this annual competition to challenge, reward and recognise talented young professionals in the built environment. Open to professionals aged 30 and under (40 in the case of architecture), and spanning across the construction, engineering, quantity surveying and architecture sectors, this award is intended to identify the next generation of future leaders/CEOs from within construction.

Emap Construct In association with Blackberry.

The clients approached Jake Ireland Architects following the work carried out next door, at No.30. The project is a complementary contemporary remodelling, extending the first floor study area and supplying a double bedroom at second floor level. The new elements are externally clad in bronze panels (chocolate brown colour, to relate to the timber cladding of No.30).

Thornhill Road is a late Georgian/ early Victorian residential terrace located within the Barnsbury Conservation Area. The ground floors of the properties of this terrace were converted into shops, with the shopfronts moved forward of the front wall onto the pavement line. In recent years most of the properties in the parade have been given planning permission for change of use of their ground floors back to residential and have been converted into family dwellings.

The proposal is for the erection of a rear extension at first and second floor levels (to replace the existing sub-standard second floor conservatory) with general internal and external improvements. The spatial composition and the selection of materials are intended to complement the neighbouring buildings. No.32 is a small residential property (ground floor internal area: 38m2; width: 3.97m). The main purpose of the proposed works is to supply a reasonably sized second bedroom in place of the undersized existing conservatory.

Sight lines mean that the replacement of the existing conservatory with a new bedroom structure is not visible from street level. Daylight will enter the spaces from all directions, changing dramatically throughout the day. The passive solar gain is combined with stack-effect ventilation. Glass floor panels and rooflights open up unexpected views through the flat.

Level access is to be supplied between the street and the entrance to the property, replacing the existing step-up of 160mm. The ground living space is to be refurbished and a new family-sized kitchen installed. The under-stair store is large enough for future installation of a WC and washbasin, if required.

No works are proposed to the existing ground floor to first floor staircase. However, future installation of a stair lift is possible, if required.

The first floor extension enables a new family bathroom to be supplied. The new terrace gives valuable outdoor amenity space and emergency egress to the terrace of No.30 and flat roof of No.34. However, privacy is to be retained by using opaque glass balustrade and a screen of tall planting (previously installed successfully to No.30).

Proposed Bedroom 2 benefits from an en-suite shower/WC, the existing front terrace and a new rear balcony. Having outdoor amenity space to both front and rear ensures excellent emergency egress for the second floor.

Published in Architects’ Journal, 21 January 2008.

Exhibited at The Building Centre, London WC1E, January to May 2008.

Featured in Open House London 2007 and 2009.

The project is a complete contemporary remodelling of a late-Georgian terrace property to supply a flat and a ground floor retail unit. The flat incorporates a double height living space, gallery mezzanine level and lower-level bedroom with private courtyard.

The structural steel frame, floor/roof timber construction, front façade, rear roof dormer, rear first floor extension for kitchen and rear terrace and balcony are all new, although the proposal relates to the previous massing of the property.

Change of use of the rear of the ground floor from retail to residential was negotiated for the bedroom. A spatially rich scheme was the intention, with a ‘cascade’ of terraces and planting.

Featured in Open House London 2007 and 2009.

The brief was to develop the property with a ground floor single-storey extension to replace part of the existing unused and neglected external yard, supplying a spacious bedroom with dressing area and renewed bathroom. With a poor northwest facing aspect, lighting design (natural and artificial) was central.

Running the London stock facing brickwork past the screen wall of ‘frameless’ fixed glazing (with large sliding door) enhances the connection between interior and exterior space as does matching the levels and colour of the floor finish.

Reclaimed London stock brickwork was used as much as possible – as well as being inherently sustainable, this gave a perfect visual match to the existing. Joinery is American white oak from sustainably managed forests. A green sedum roof is planned.

The existing house had undersized rooms which received poor qualities of daylight and felt cut-off from the garden. The scheme opens up the family living space to the garden by removing all unnecessary partition walls and suppling the largest volume extension possible under permitted development rights.

The L-shaped extension defines a new outdoor patio ‘room’ that connects both the living and kitchen areas to the garden. Floor to ceiling double-glazed door panels fold back to dissolve the corner.

This project comprises a rear extension for a bedroom and new access to the roof terrace, with general interior improvements. Draycott Avenue is a remodeled Victorian terrace with retail/restaurant accommodation on the lower levels and residential flats set back from the road at higher levels.

The spatial composition and the selection of materials are intended to complement the neighbouring buildings while being clearly a modern intervention. The main purpose of the proposed works is to supply a reasonably sized second bedroom in place of the under-used existing lower-terrace as well as improving access to the existing main roof terrace.

Sight lines mean that the proposed stair enclosure will not be visible from street level. Glass floor panels and rooflights open up unexpected views through the flat.

This four storey Victorian property in Tower Hamlets was extensively remodeled for a developer/contractor client to supply three apartments. Living spaces were made as generous as possible and rooflights were introduced to bring daylight deep into the plan.

Needs copy

The proposal celebrates the harsh, saline conditions by conceiving of the beach hut as a timepiece. A simple ‘floating’ cubic form clad in metal panels of varying rates of corrosion, enabling the measurement of the seasons through subtly changing weathering patterns. It becomes an experiment into entropy and decay.

Strategic placement of openings in the slowly rusting skin responds to views and gives a changing quality of light and shadow to the calm interior.

A flexible space for sunning, resting, dreaming, changing, showering, watching, sketching, partying, dozing … as well as a home for wildlife.

Corten steel clads the large wall panel (folding down as a seating deck) facing the sea to the East; the remainder of the East façade is 3mm stainless steel plate, wrapping round to cover the North face (mirror-polished 316-steel, reducing corrosion rates and bouncing light in the space between huts). The West façade rusts rapidly while retaining integrity (4mm min. oiled mild steel proposed). Aluminium-bronze covers the South façade (highly resistant to atmospheric/ saline corrosion with an attractive gold-toned coloration), with photovoltaic panels.

The galv. steel frame is infilled with stud panels. The interior is designed for flexibility of use. Cladding to walls and floor is black-stained/ natural plywood panels, with folding-down panels for bed/ seating. Movable furniture is ply/acrylic. Kitchen and shower facilities are provided, with deck-chair storage. Exterior lighting below the cube enhances the ‘floating’ impression. Wheelchair access is by ramping up to the seating deck. Windows on the South and West sides are protected by sliding timber grilles. The frameless-glazed Southeast corner supplies views and morning sun.

A green roof – sedum, with wild flowers – supports insects. A Barn Owl ‘funnel’ box to the Northwest corner of the roof is appropriate for more isolated locations.

A beach hut to celebrate change and uncertainty.