Victorian Maisonette Extension & Renovation | Islington N4

Shift House is a contemporary two-storey rear extension and full renovation of a Victorian maisonette in Islington, N4. Studio DC Architects transformed a previously dark and fragmented home into a bright, open and flexible family home by carefully reimagining the existing layout and strengthening the connection between the house and its garden.

The defining idea behind the project responds to the unusual geometry of the site. With the garden set at an angle to the existing house, the design embraces this shift rather than concealing it. At first-floor level, the contextual brick extension aligns with the original Victorian building, while at ground floor level the extension subtly shifts towards the garden, creating a stronger relationship between inside and out. Above, a projecting Corten steel-clad window seat forms a quiet reading nook overlooking the garden.

Internally, the ground floor has been opened up to create a generous kitchen, dining and living space flooded with natural daylight from expansive glazing and a large rooflight. Bespoke joinery, including cantilevered seating, integrated kitchen cabinetry and storage walls, reflects the shifting geometry of the extension while making efficient use of the available space.

At the heart of the home, a finely crafted Valchromat-clad ‘black box’ discreetly accommodates the staircase, utility room, WC, storage and a concealed sliding door, creating a calm and uncluttered interior. A carefully considered palette of brick, Corten steel, timber and colour responds to the clients' background in the fashion industry, resulting in a home they describe as "visually stunning and a joy to live in."