Many of London?s streets are still lined with Victorian-era “terrace houses,” which we usually refer to as “townhouses” on this side of the Atlantic. First built using sturdy brick after the Great Fire of London, these homes remained popular for centuries afterward, housing workers in industrial districts well into the 19th century. The larger and more ornate terrace houses were often owned by wealthy people and included spacious courtyard gardens, but like most Victorian architecture, they tended to be dark and constrained inside, featuring small rooms that don?t translate well to 21st century lifestyles.
In the decades after World War II, many of the older terrace houses were demolished to make way for denser tower blocks, but today, municipalities and private owners are working hard to preserve them. Not only do the quality and lifespan of the original materials used to build these beauties help them last longer than some modern structures, but they?re historically significant, too. One cool trend in updating London terrace houses is the affixing of a glass extension to their rears, by which their interiors are expanded without significantly altering their facades.
As far as the British firm Guarnieri Architects was concerned, a sleek glazed box was just what this Victorian terrace in Clapham Common called for, acting as a light well to flood the interiors with daylight while providing extra room for a newly-altered floor plan. Namely, the clien...