At Coffey Architects we were immensely proud to be included on the shortlist for 2016′s Stephen Lawrence Prize. We found ourselves among really great company and didn’t envy the judges their task of choosing the winner.

Earlier in October the winning project was announced; the honour being given to the incredible House of Trace by Tsuruta Architects.

Although we were saddened not to win ourselves we can appreciate the fantastic design of the winning project. On top of this we also take a lot of positives from the similarities between our two projects, both of which involved adding a contemporary extension to an existing property. We understand the challenges this kind of project can present as well as the opportunities.

Extensions have become immensely popular all over London with more and more architects being called on to create designs that are complementary and aesthetically pleasing. The trend has developed because space is in such high demand and property prices are rising. The latter makes it tricky for people to move, resulting in extending becoming a more favoured option. An extension can also add valuable extra space that may boost the value of a property substantially, especially with a wonderful design.

One thing we have learned is the value of differentiating old from new with extension designs. People love to see where the two come together and the effect the meeting creates. There are a number of ways to do this, including utilising contrasting materials. Even slight alterations such as opting for slightly paler or darker bricks can work wonders.

London is a fantastic destination for architecture, both in the residential and commercial sense. We are very proud to work as architects here and enjoy the myriad of inspirational designs on offer.

If you are considering adding a new extension or remodelling an existing one our team can offer all of the help you need and deliver a great design. On top of this we can oversee the work and give you a professional helping hand throughout.