Peckham Rye House is a rear extension and refurbishment of an Edwardian terraced house in South East London.


The client wanted a simple, cost-efficient and design-led rear extension and kitchen to better engage with the rear garden and existing garden room.

Bespoke and hard-wearing 'self-finished' materials were carefully selected from available stock in builders merchants — bricks, concrete lintels, the oak beams and the oak veneered plywood for the kitchen cabinetry. Finishes were pared back to a few in order to reduce as many finishing trades as possible, saving cost and time.

The project entered into the fit out stage just as the UK went into the first Covid lockdown. Nowhere was open, except for trade depots.

The client’s planned supplier for the kitchen was temporarily closed and we had to find an alternative. The design drawings were further detailed into fabrication drawings. This provided a cutting list and the raw sheet material was sourced and delivered to site. The contractor’s team, including skilled itinerant trades who had been furloughed, then handmade the cabinetry on site. A great example of the tripartite relationship between client, architect and contractor.

A palette of oak, glass and concrete is both warm and robust which commanded a premium when sold.

Peckham Rye House was Shortlisted for Don’t Move, Improve! 2021

Client Testimonal


Design: Draper Studio 2019 - 2020  
Built: IC Construction Services  
Structural Engineering: TSC Ltd  
Photo Credit: Christian Brailey