Gimme shelter: Crouch End’s A2studio wins award for Stoke canopy extension

The once dark kitchen at the rear of the house has been transformed into a bright living space in harmony with the garden (Image: Archant)

A Crouch End studio has taken home a Local Authority Building Control (LABC)

award of Best Extension to an Existing Home for their Canopy House project in Stoke Newington.

A2studio was also a finalist in the Best Partnership with a Local Authority Building Control Team category.

Originally featuring a dark kitchen and unattractive rear elevation, the Scandinavian client hoped to achieve a holistic sense of light in the new space at the back of the Victorian home, with an innovative and unconventional extension.

The oriel window seat is surrounded by oak and set under a skylight which floods the extension with natural light (Image: Archant)

A2studio drew on Scandi style to design a black brick extension with a cantilevered oak-lined canopy and an oriel window seat clad in oak as part of the extension to the rear façade.

A bright yellow palette in the kitchen makes for a warm and bright place to sip on a morning cup of coffee and lifts the simplicity of the monochromatic tiling and worktops.

In addition, a first floor side extension provides space for the new bathroom and sauna.

Kerem and Claudia Aksoy, who formed A2studio in 2008, created the new living area using bespoke timber joinery creating a cosy, forest feeling.

The floor space was enlarged with every effort given to maximising garden space, accessed via large pivot doors. On rainy days, expansive floor to ceiling oak-framed windows allow views of the garden from the comfort of indoors.

Kerem Aksoy said: “It is a great honour for us to win this award. We always thrive to assist our clients to achieve their dream design while working in harmony with all parties involved in the building process.

“Competition has been very strong this year and we feel that being a relatively young and small practice, winning this prestigious award is a great achievement for the team.”

Clearly, LABC aren’t the project’s only supporters.

Canopy House received 700 visitors as part of Open House London last year and was featured in the Don’t Move, Improve! Awards this year.

With the weather in somewhat of a slump since last week’s heatwave, the extension provides a cosy spot to sit with a book by the window and watch the world go by under quiet pitter patter of raindrops on the glass roof. Hygge isn’t just for Christmas after all.