Departing from the typical L-shaped extension, OEB Architects introduced a “full-width shed” in their redesign of a family home in north London.

Called A Simple Addition, the project extends the rear of the semi-detached, two-storey Tottenham house, creating a spacious new kitchen and dining area for the family.

Constructed with straightforward, cost-effective materials, the 30-square-metre extension provides a distinctive alternative to the wraparound additions commonly seen on London’s Victorian terraces.

Rather than following convention, OEB Architects designed an extension that is wider than the original house, recognizing this approach would best accommodate the clients and their two young children.

“With a small Victorian house, there is often the problem of a lowered ceiling beneath the first-floor outrigger, which can make a wraparound extension feel cramped,” explained David Eland, co-founder of the studio with Tessa Baird.

“We felt that this lower ceiling section would put too much pressure on any open-plan space, as if a weight was pressing down on it,” Eland told Dezeen.

Although the house itself is modest in size, it benefits from a long garden, providing ample space to extend the building further back rather than wrapping it around the side.

“By moving the extension past the outrigger, we were able to create a taller, lighter space with a much simpler structure,” Eland added.

With a limited budget, the architects opted for a simple structure that could be built as an unfinished shell, allowing the owners to complete the interior themselves over time.

The extension features painted concrete block walls and an exposed timber-frame roof, which incorporates a row of clerestory windows and a skylight to bring in natural light.