This Radiant London Extension Takes Cues From Car Design

When a London couple set about adapting their Edwardian home to better suit their young family, the obvious solution was to build a rear extension. The challenge, however, was that two neighboring extensions overlooked the rear of the property and compromised privacy. In search of a solution that would maintain privacy yet allow for plenty of natural light, architecture studio Proctor and Shaw looked to an unusual source of inspiration—car design.

"We had to think laterally about maintaining the residents’ privacy and access to light while still fulfilling the brief to create a light and bright home," says architect Mike Shaw. "To meet this challenge, we designed a wraparound L-shaped extension with angular glazing. The resulting apex form includes four distinct ‘quarter-glass’ windows of various sizes. Just as cars have quarter-glass windows designed to the body of the vehicle, we have configured glazing to best fit and service the new family space."