@darrenoldfieldarchitects
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You might have just decided that you want to change your home. Or maybe you've been mulling it over for some time. Getting those thoughts out of your head and onto a document can give clarity as to what you want to achieve with your building project.
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Swipe through to see some questions to ask yourself about your project. The answers will help you build a brief which you can discuss with your architect.
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As Darren ...
Aug 18
When you inherit a house which generations have owned before you, putting your stamp on it can feel both exciting and daunting!
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We were appointed to bring this dated 1960s terraced house in Upper Sydenham, South East London back to life with a calm Scandinavian aesthetic.
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We refurbished all four levels of the house, ensuring the best use of every square inch, and making the most of the stunning views of London that the ...
Aug 17
Over two thirds of our work comes from existing client referrals and recommendations. 👇
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We are Darren Oldfield Architects, an award-winning architectural practice established in 2013 and based in West Dulwich, London.
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We work with a variety of clients including private homeowners, developers and small businesses. Our work is mainly in the residential sector, with construction budgets ranging from £250,000 to over ...
Aug 15
Have you heard of a half-house?
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Half-houses are very common in the Dulwich area of South East London. They are so called because the wall between one neighbouring property is non-structural, meaning two homes become two half-houses.
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We were appointed in 2015 to fully refurbish this property and maximise the efficiency of the existing space.
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We also added a loft extension to house a ...
Aug 13
Mid-century design classic this house was not!
Our client approached us to transform this Peckham 1950's mid terrace into a space that would showcase her eclectic furniture, craft, art, and fashion collections, while also providing entertaining areas and a quiet, peaceful haven at the top of the house.
We fully refurbished the property, adding a ground floor extension to open ...
Aug 10
Ugly house to lovely house! Swipe left to see the before after after transformation (including our plan) of the rear facade in Peckham, South London.
This series of adaptions to this terraced infill home completely transforms the interior and exterior, drawing in natural light, with gorgeous Crittall-style windows leading to the garden.
We used dark glazed brick, charred wood ...
Aug 8
NEW COMMISSION! ✍🏼
We are thrilled to start on this hidden gem in Wandsworth Common with its lovely Victorian rear facade details.
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We have been commissioned to re-configure the ground floor while adding a large rear and first floor extension. In addition to this, a new attic storey will complete the transformation. 💫
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Stage 2 drawings are in progress. Follow us for updates as we unravel what is hidden behind ...
Aug 8
From ordinary to extraordinary!
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We have recently begun work on this mid-terrace house in Herne Hill, expanding the footprint with rear, side and loft extensions.
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To create visual consistency we will clad the newly built sections in a pre-patinated copper that complements the warm brick tones of the original building.
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The use of warm natural materials also extends to the interior. The ...
Aug 6
🏡 For Sale. Foxgrove Road is selling up!
We are delighted to see this beautiful South London property under offer on The Modern House.
We were commissioned in 2015 to work on this late Victorian property in Beckenham, increasing the ground floor living accommodation with vaulted spaces to the side and the rear.
Work was completed in 2017 and ...
Aug 4
Our Summer newsletter is live! Grab a coffee and catch up with our latest projects and announcements, including:
📸 a peak at our latest photoshoot - Peckham House, with its stark black exteriors and light, colourful interiors
🏡 our newest commissions - a detached late Victorian villa in Wandsworth and our first project in Essex, a stunning Arts and Crafts period home.
🔨 Find out which Darren Oldfield designed property is up for sale on @Themodernhouse
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Aug 3
Why should you consider an Architect for your build? 🤔 You only get one go at a build, and it's important to get it right.
A great architect will bring:
▷ BESPOKE DESIGN
▷ PEACE OF ...
Aug 1
To clad or not to clad, that is the question!? Cladding in your build can have a transformative effect. Used cleverly, it can create visual impact, highlight a feature through contrast and framing or help to blend new and old together cohesively.
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Cladding includes materials such as bricks, tiles, metal or wood, but in basic terms, it is a material applied to the external surface of a building.
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However, the reasons to add ...
Jul 30
Why include a green roof in your property development?
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🌱 They increase biodiversity
🌱 They insulate, cooling the property in the summer and keeping it warmer in the winter.
🌱 They reduce strain on sewerage systems and reduce flood risk.
🌱 They are a joy to look at and increase in beauty over time.
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Beauty is itself a sustainable feature of architecture. The more aesthetically pleasing a building ...
Jul 29
A Room with a View 🌳
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In 2019 we reimagined the upper floors of this Crystal Palace home, completely removing the roof and all internal walls on the first floor to create a whole new storey at the top of the house.
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Swipe through to see the luxurious master suite we created which includes a walk-through dressing area and generous bathroom. With those leafy green views from the inset roof terrace, you get the illusion of ...
Jul 28
We love a challenge! And for this client, we were tasked with turning a brown house into a beautiful house. ✨
Completed in 2018, we added a series of extensions to this property in Carshalton, originally built 20 years previously in 1998.
We created a much bigger kitchen dining space, conservatory garden room, and attic guest bedroom suite.
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Jul 26
B R I S E S O L E I L ☀️
A first for us! Whenever possible we use our design expertise to minimise the risk of overheating by looking at the orientation, window position and size. However, on this project, south-facing sun exposure was unavoidable, so we added a brise soleil.
A brise soleil is a bit like a sun visor for a building. In this project, we have used a series of bespoke, angled, galvanised and ...
Jul 24
Early Victorian splendour was just waiting to be discovered when we renovated this pied-a-terre in Notting Hill ✨
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We restored this tired Grade II listed apartment, working within the constraints of listed building regulations as well as the complexities of a third-floor position. We replanned the space making the best use of the footprint available.
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We uncovered stunning original coving which was stripped and restored to ...
Jul 22
Embarking on your first building project can be a daunting prospect, which is why we make our working process very clear to our clients, so that you can make informed decisions along the way and know what's to come. Here is our 5 step approach:
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1. Brief and Survey - We meet with you to discuss your needs and intentions for the project, your budget and the timescale. We arrange a measured survey of the property which allows us to create detailed plans and ...
Jul 21
Here's what you need to know about renovating a listed building. 👇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Listed buildings have special architectural or historical interest. The listing process gives these buildings extra protection in the planning system to help them retain their original features and preserve them for future generations. This can make them desirable homes and properties, but they also come with special responsibilities for owners when it comes ...
Jul 19
These Stage 2 sketch designs are almost finished and we'll soon be submitting them for pre-application advice.
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Our design for this impressive Grade II listed townhouse in Islington includes lowering the floor and reworking the layout of the existing modern extensions to the property, as well as the layout of the ground floor.
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We are working with the current layout at the rear, creating an L-shaped living area around a ...
Jul 17
Houses on hills often come with their own set of challenges.
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We were appointed by the owners of this property in Forest Hill to replace a tired and dilapidated 1980s conservatory and replace it with a light bright living space.
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In response to the brief, we designed a raised rear extension featuring roof lights and large sliding doors which provide direct access to the garden via a bespoke steel and timber staircase.
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Jul 15
And we’re off! Darren (in shot) and Lydia recently visited this beautiful rural location in Guildford. We are now busy sketching our designs to get ready to present them to the client.
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Watch this space as we transform this semi-detached property and side garage into a contemporary home for a growing family.
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Follow us for updates @darrenoldfieldarchitects
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Jul 13
Though we're based in South London, we work all over the South-East, and further afield across the U.K.
But when we do work closer to home in hilly South London, we're often treated to some stunning views of the London skyline.
Where possible, we enhance these within properties through the use of well proportioned and positioned ...
Jul 11
When the walls come down and the steels go up!
At this point in the build, the idea of sitting in your beautiful new kitchen enjoying a glass of wine can feel a long way off! However, when the contractors position the steels, you start to get your first glimpse into the size of your new extension.
We recently started work on site at our project in Herne Hill. We are extending into ...
Jul 10
