Listed Townhouse
London, 2024
Extending and renovating a Georgian townhouse as a considered family home
DESCRIPTION
An elegant listed Georgian townhouse in the heart of London. Working closely with a highly creative, art-loving client, a full renovation of this property produced a very special family home and a dramatic backdrop for a number of important art pieces. DOLL & Co. was successful in achieving a sensitive, lightweight extension to the rear of the property – the first of its kind in the listed square for 200 years.
“Our main aim was to bring back the original elements. I always say: the house is like an old lady who needs a lot of attention. And we wanted it to blossom again, like a beautiful flower. To achieve this, we needed help, of course. As it is a listed building, we worked very closely with a heritage consultant. Without him, it certainly wouldn't have turned out the way it is now. He did a lot of research into what we could change in the house and how we could bring back the original elements. So we worked strategically to make the old lady shine again.”
– Client, published in AD Middle East
CONSTRAINTS
Grade II listing requiring listed building consent for all alterations.
Location within a conservation area with heightened scrutiny.
Very limited precedent for comparable extensions locally.
Demanding planning authority and active local conservation group.
History of refused applications and dismissed appeals nearby.
Need to retain and reinstate significant Victorian fabric.
OPPORTUNITIES
Restoration of lost original features and spatial hierarchy.
High heritage value supporting a strong conservation-led narrative.
Carefully judged contemporary interventions to contrast old and new.
Subtle extension potential where historically justified.
Enhanced daylight and functionality within existing envelope.
A distinctive, personal home shaped by research and craftsmanship.
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