The Canonbury Townhouse offers limited space while using the same materials and character to provide a unified approach to the property.

About Studio

IF_DO was founded in 2014 by three good friends, bored by inaction and excited by the possibility of doing things differently. They believe architecture has the power to improve lives and make communities happier and stronger. They have a knack for building relationships, exceeding expectations, and delivering projects with people at their heart.

They won the first competition we entered, The Dulwich Pavilion, and its success led to work across Education, Arts, Community, Workspace, and Housing. They are a close team who holds each other to the highest standards. Our growing reputation is for well-loved and thoughtful work.

The townhouse's transparent glass main door goes with the classic brick wall stones.
The townhouse’s transparent glass main door goes with the classic brick wall stones.
The perfect place to unwind and breathe fresh air while admiring the outside nature with your houseplants.
The perfect place to unwind and breathe fresh air while admiring the outside nature with your houseplants.
The narrow hallway of the townhouse goes from the kitchen all the way to the dining area.
The narrow hallway of the townhouse goes from the kitchen all the way to the dining area.
The townhouse's kitchen offers limited space, though it's functional, and it includes a pleasant balcony on the upper floor.
The townhouse’s kitchen offers limited space, though it’s functional, and it includes a pleasant balcony on the upper floor.
The three-seater light-brown sofa in the living room contrasts with the dark-colored atmosphere of the room.
The three-seater light-brown sofa in the living room contrasts with the dark-colored atmosphere of the room.
A fascinating room has musical instruments and functions as a library.
A fascinating room has musical instruments and functions as a library.
Canonbury's completed bedroom is decorated with a blue zodiac theme.
Canonbury’s completed bedroom is decorated with a blue zodiac theme.

Commissioned by multiple generations of the same family, the brief for Canonbury House was to create two separate homes for grandparents, and their children and grandchildren, within the same Grade II-listed townhouse.

The house had seen only minor alterations throughout its history, including the addition of a small, low quality, lower ground floor extension. The original closet wing was still clearly defined, and there was a desire from the planners that the historic character of the rear of the house is maintained.

The solution was to create two new lead-topped glass and timber rear extensions, one for the grandparents as part of a new lower-ground floor flat, and one as part of the larger family home on the upper levels. These two extensions, similar in materials and character create a unifying approach to the house and provide equal access to the shared garden, yet offer clear differentiation between the two domains.

The design of the two extensions echoes the form of the existing closet wing, and amplifies the character of the rear of many Georgian townhouses, with a series of shifting volumes of differing heights and depths.

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