Dezeen Magazine

London's best new house extensions revealed in Don't Move, Improve! 2017 shortlist

A garden studio dedicated to rug making, a sunken Japanese-style bath and a spacious kitchen built from pale bricks feature among the 24 projects shortlisted in a competition to find London's best home extensions.

Don't Move, Improve! is organised by New London Architecture (NLA) – an independent forum dedicated to new architecture and construction – in association with Dezeen and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Sunken Bath by Studio 304
Sunken Bath Project, Clapton, by Studio 304 Architecture

An extension with textured brick walls, a black- zinc-clad living space and a renovated Victorian gatehouse also made the shortlist for the annual award, which is now in its seventh year.

Other projects recognised include a house with a new burnt wood exterior, an extended 1960s property and a kitchen on wheels.

Harvey Road Crouch End London by Erbar Mattes
Harvey Road, Hornsey, by Erbar Mattes

Any home extension or improvement project completed within the last two years in one of London's 33 boroughs was eligible for entry for Don't Move, Improve!

Judges included Dezeen editor Amy Frearson, NLA chairman Peter Murray, architect Carl Turner, Ash Sakula co-founder Cany Ash and Levitt Bernstein co-director Jo McCafferty.

The overall winners will be revealed at a reception at The Building Centre in London on 26 January 2017. An exhibition of 120 submitted designs will be unveiled at the same time.

Courtyard House by Kirkwood McCarthy
Pages Lane, Muswell Hill, by Kirkwood McCarthy

The winner of last year's awards was a two storey addition to a Victorian home in Lewisham by Tsuruta Architects.

A playful extension featuring a red brick exterior thought to look like a fox, and a house with large folding doors and windows took second and third place.

Here's the full Don't Move, Improve! 2017 shortlist:


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Clay House, Tufnell Park, by Simon Astridge Architecture Workshop


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Delawyk Modular House, Herne Hill, by R2 Studio Architects


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Double Concrete House, Clapham, by Inter Urban Studios


Harvey Road Crouch End London by Erbar Mattes

Harvey Road, Hornsey, by Erbar Mattes


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Hennessy House, Chiswick, by Paul Archer Design


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Home/Studio Kilburn Lane, Queen's Park, by Studio McLeod


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Kennington House, Kennington, by R2 Studio Architects


Lacy Brick by Pamphilon Architects

Lacy Brick, Hornsey, by Pamphilon Architects


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The Lined Extension, Wormwood Scrubs, by YARD Architects


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Molyneux Street, Edgware, by Patrick Lewis Architects


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N22: A kitchen on wheels, Wood Green, by Turner Architects


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Pages Lane, Muswell Hill, by Kirkwood McCarthy


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Park House, Barnsbury, by Lipton Plant Architects


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Phase II, Holloway, by West Architecture


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The Rug Room, Oval, by Nic Howett


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Slab House, Clapham, by Bureau de Change Architects


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Stamford Road, Dalston, by Pamphilon Architects


The Study House by Studio 30 Architects

The Study House, New Cross, by Studio 30 Architects and Cornerstone Contractors


Sunken Bath by Studio 304

Sunken Bath Project, Clapton, by Studio 304 Architecture


Bakery Place by Jo Cowen

Valhalla, Highgate, by Denizen Works


McGarry-Moon Architects adds concrete, timber and glass extension to a traditional gatehouse

Warren Cottage, Kingston, by McGarry-Moon Architects


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Wearside Wood, Ladywell, by Gruff Limited


Wolfram Close by Selencky Parsons

Wolfram Close, Hither Green, by Selencky///Parsons


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Yellow House, Herne Hill, by Nimtim Architects