Tucked within a row of mid-terrace Victorian houses in Balham, Southwest London, a once-compact ground-floor flat has been transformed into a stylish and contemporary home. The project, a carefully considered redevelopment and rear side extension, set out to do more than simply reconfigure rooms. It sought to retain the craftsmanship of its 19th-century origins while embracing a modern way of living built around light, openness, and connection to the outdoors.
The original kitchen and living room were reinvented as bedrooms, while internal walls were repositioned to allow private access to each. The reconfigured plan places the social heart of the home at the back of the space, where daily life unfolds against a backdrop of greenery and daylight.
From the outset, the design team focused on retaining the integrity of the Victorian structure while allowing it to evolve. The aim was to combine the past with modernity. Maximising natural light became a guiding principle, with an emphasis on bringing the outside in, to extend the sense of space and calm.
A major focus of the refurbishment is the use of Fabco’s handcrafted steel windows and doors. Fabco’s team of experts collaborated closely with the architects to ensure perfectly precision engineered, slender steel frames were designed to act as a bridge between heritage and contemporary design.
“One of the most impressive elements of the experience with Fabco was their survey, because we needed to buy the windows prior to construction as we were on a tight programme, Fabco’s surveyor worked with us to achieve the detailing we wanted without having a physical building to measure. Now this presents some risk which we acknowledged but had great faith in the Fabco team and process to know exactly what was coming and it worked out perfectly.”
Environmental responsibility was woven into every design decision. This made Fabco’s 99% recycled, and 100% recyclable, steel windows and doors perfect. Designed and engineered to last a lifetime, they are an ideal alignment for the project’s sustainability ethos.
“Sustainability is a factor in every decision we make in the studio. Being able to achieve the desired look from a product whilst it matching our sustainability criteria is often a tough ask so it was great to know that Fabco use such a high content of recycled material. You can feel it in the doors that they will last a lifetime and likely beyond when taken care of.”
Supporting British manufacturing and craftsmanship felt not only the responsible option, but working with others who share the same ethos was essential to the project’s integrity.
Material reuse was embraced throughout: original brickwork was salvaged to build the extension’s gables; existing and reclaimed floorboards were combined to retain a traditional raised timber floor; and the subfloor was insulated with a hemp-based system as a natural alternative to concrete.
“Fabco’s steel windows and doors have formed the foundation of the feel of the space we set out to achieve. Interiors are about how a space makes you feel, finding the balance between beauty and functionality is paramount to this. These windows exude a warmth and richness in their tone and style that helps to ground the space. One can find themselves sitting with a coffee or a glass of wine for longer than one has. The slim profiles and interest of the windows in their form helps to achieve our goal of bringing the garden in, blurring the line between outside and in.”
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