London-based architect David Mikhail of Mikhail Riches added a two-story "glass box" with a sunken kitchen and dining room to the back of a 19th century East London house to connect indoor living spaces to the garden. White brickwork, used both indoors and out, further blurs the distinction.
We discovered the project via Dezeen, where the architect described how he used white brick as a hardscape detail to " wrap right from the inside to the outside; the garden really feels like it is just an extension of this kitchen dining room."
Photography via Mikhail Riches.
Above: Unusually wide, the circa 1830s house stretches the width of three typical row houses. In the glass box addition, walls of glass are framed with larch wood and overlook tiered garden beds.
Above: Retaining walls of white brick define separate spaces—for dining, lounging, and planting beds—in the backyard.
Above: The view from the dining room. Garden designer Jane Brockbank planted wildflowers and perennial grasses for a loose, natural look.
Above: Prior to renovation,, the house had been subdivided into three units, with limited access to the large garden (which could be reached only by a spiral staircase from one unit).
Above: White brick in the open kitchen-dining room area matches the hardscape detail outdoors.
Above: An aerial view of the garden.
Above: At night, down lights on the white walls create dramatic shadows.
For more garden renovations to historic London homes, see:
- The Vegetarian Cottage in East London
- A Cabin Hideaway in Central London
- A Tiny Summerhouse in South London
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