Fifties House
Kennington, London
The refurbishment and extension of a 1950s council house in Kennington, London, reworking the existing building to better support contemporary family life while revealing and celebrating the qualities of its original structure.
The design process began with a careful assessment of the existing fabric, identifying what could be retained, repaired or exposed, and where selective intervention would add clarity and generosity.
As layers were stripped back, the expressive character of the original construction became more apparent, informing the spatial and material decisions that followed.
Two areas became focal points within the scheme: the kitchen and the main staircase. Both were reimagined as moments of concentration within the plan, subtly referencing the house’s mid-century origins while accommodating the practical demands of daily use.
Elsewhere, the plan was rationalised to improve flow, daylight and connection between spaces, balancing the straightforward logic of the original house with new, carefully detailed insertions.
Throughout the project, new elements are clearly legible but restrained, allowing the character of the existing building to remain present while supporting a more open and adaptable home.
Before
