Dezeen Magazine

Taper House by Mustard Architects

Angular doors connect tapered extension with tiled patio by Mustard Architects

Mustard Architects has added this extension to an Edwardian house in west London, featuring a tapered plan that expands towards angular glazed doors set into its asymmetric gabled facade.

Taper House by Mustard Architects

East London studio Mustard Architects was asked to renovate and extend the property for new owners who wanted a brighter, more contemporary interior with an enhanced connection to the rear garden.

The existing house featured a typically cramped and compartmentalised layout, so the studio began by removing unwanted partitions to create a more seamless series of spaces.

Taper House by Mustard Architects

An angled hallway opens up as it extends from the front door towards the new addition at the rear, which houses an open-plan kitchen, dining space and snug.

The extension's form was informed in part by local planning regulations. The resulting pitched-roof structure slopes down towards the boundaries on either side and prevents overlooking or overshadowing its neighbours.

Taper House by Mustard Architects

"Strict planning restrictions concerning extension boundary heights in conflict with our clients desire for voluminous space underpinned the angular roof planes that hover above the kitchen, dining area and snug," said the architects.

"The steelwork, joists and rafters that would normally be hidden are exposed to reinforce the sculptural qualities of the form and components themselves."

Taper House by Mustard Architects

The end facade incorporates a pair of custom-made glazed doors that fill the entire space beneath the sloping roof to optimise the views of the garden and the amount of daylight entering the interior.

The extension's elevations are clad in a combination of dark brick and matching stained timber. The same wood is used for the fences that line the garden, creating a consistent aesthetic throughout the exterior spaces.

A bench incorporated along one side of the dining area continues through the facade to connect the inside and outside spaces, and to provide usable external seating.

Taper House by Mustard Architects

Inside the extension, two types of flooring follow the alignment of the angled hallway and delineate the different functional areas.

Oak floor boards contribute to the warm and bright feel of the kitchen, which is positioned beneath skylights incorporated into the pitched ceiling.

The dining space has black floor tiles that extend through the space and out towards the garden, where they form an angular patio.

Taper House by Mustard Architects

A wooden corner bench creates a snug that looks out onto the garden through a window set into the facade beneath the lower part of the roof.

From the snug, there is also a line of sight all the way past the kitchen and television room towards a reception room at the front of the house.

Taper House by Mustard Architects

Taper House was shortlisted for the 2018 Don’t Move, Improve awards, which showcase London's best new home extensions.

The overall winner was an extension to the rear of a Georgian townhouse featuring a curving canopy that wraps around the edge of a reflecting pool.

Photography is by Tim Crocker.

More images and plans

Taper House by Mustard Architects
Ground floor plan
Taper House by Mustard Architects
First floor plan
Taper House by Mustard Architects
Section
Taper House by Mustard Architects
Section
Taper House by Mustard Architects
Section
Taper House by Mustard Architects
Taper House by Mustard Architects
Taper House by Mustard Architects
Taper House by Mustard Architects