This Neo-Gothic family home facing Wandsworth Common was built in 1877 as part of a Victorian development of detached villas with gardens leading onto the secluded Spencer Park. P. Joseph undertook a complete refurbishment of the property including a double-height kitchen extension, restoration of the façade, and the creation of a large basement that seamlessly integrates the landscaping of the garden, substantially increasing the house’s footprint.

The lower ground floor is subtly set beneath the garden, with half of the space dedicated to an sunken courtyard. This design invites daylight into the gym, playroom and spa, and provides a connection to the outdoors, creating a subterranean space that is an airy, light-filled continuation of the atmosphere above.

Central to the P. Joseph vision for this project was a desire to revise and harmonise the relationship between period house and modern extension, creating a home which embraces the differing scale and character of its spaces without allowing either to dominate the other. The new double-height kitchen extends naturally from a formal living room at the front. A lighter version of the original Victorian brick defines the new space, establishing cohesion between the old and new architecture while quietly asserting a sense of modernity.