Sun Rain Rooms in Islington, a revamped Georgian townhouse, has won the first prize in the New London Architecture’s (NLA) annual competition Don’t Move, Improve! 2018. 

Mentioned by NLA, “this annual competition promotes the value of good design to householders and the work of emerging architectural practices to find out the best-designed new home extensions and improvements in London.”

“The winner was praised by the expert jury for its unique intervention to a Grade-II listed Georgian townhouse, showcasing how creative design can deliver truly innovative solutions that reinterpret the traditional garden,” mentioned by NLA.

The winning project, including a glazed extension with a concave roof, serves as both a studio for the practice and a home for the designers and owners of Mike Tonkin and Anna Liu, founders of Tonkin Liu in London.

Awarded also with the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) London Award 2017, "the rear extension works over two floors, with a small light-well, bridged by a glazed stair, allowing light into the new basement level accommodation. At street level, a sweeping roof with glazed walls to the garden and mirrored rear storage walls provides a social space for both the home and the studio."

“The most notable feature of the winning project is this roof that “all the surface water from the roof is taken into a channel at the eaves of the new extension and discharges into a tank. When this water is released, it fills the black granite courtyard which becomes a reflecting pool, adding to the tricks of light and mirrored images running through the project as a whole,” as continued by RIBA - "the jury admired the eccentricity of the proposal and the narrative supporting its concept."

At the push of a button, the tank floods the patio transforming it into a reflecting pool offering "a fine example of how creative design can deliver innovative solutions that reinterpret the way we use garden space – even to the extent of enjoying rain!," according to the chairman of NLA, Peter Murray spoke at homes and property.

"The jury, which included Carl Turner and Cany Ash among others, praised the designers for creating a unique and diverse structure – a model example of live-work spatial programming and for rethinking the traditional garden," written by Adrian Welch.

"This delightful small project demonstrated a sculptural sensitivity and complexity which made it a pleasure to experience. The form of the space, and planting to the roof and light-well, celebrate a connection to nature which compliments the formal character of the main house," said RIBA.

Philippa Stockley's,  judge and journalist of the competition, view at homes and property told that "Sun Rain Rooms is so exciting and glamorous – there’s so much happening and it’s a total transformation that makes your heart sing. It’s completely innovative."

Peter Murray, Chairman of NLA, said: “Don’t Move, Improve! is a wonderful showcase for the quality of architectural talent that abounds in London. The bespoke additions and alterations on show at NLA ensure that London’s stock of homes has a new lease of life, are more sustainable and are fit for a 21st-century lifestyle." 

"The exhibition shows off many excellent examples of the designers’ skill at making the best use of space within the constraints of the conventional townhouse. The winning project by Tonkin Liu is a fine example of how creative design can deliver innovative solutions that reinterpret the way we use garden space – even to the extent of enjoying the rain!”

‘Don’t Move, Improve!’ – organised in association with Clippings, Architects’ Republic, Dezeen, Dezeen Jobs and RIBA London and featured in Dezeen’s hotlist is featuring the projects in an exhibition.

The winning projects, the shortlist and all 120 entry proposals of the architects for the best home extension projects for London will now be shown in a three-month free exhibition at NLA’s Galleries at The Building Centre, until 20 April 2018.

All images © Edmund Sumner

> via NLA & RIBA