Rose hues brighten concrete extension

Gresford Architects has created a pink concrete extension at Ritson Road, a small Victorian Terrace situated in the Graham Road and Mapledene Conservation Area in Hackney. The brief was to give the family owners a larger kitchen and living area and improve the connection between the ground floor spaces. The new kitchen, created by Plykea using pink Formica® laminate, is contemporary yet in keeping with the family’s eclectic taste.

The extension includes a comfortable sunken seating area and an internal winter garden encased within the diagonal rear elevation. Natural light floods the internal spaces through a large roof light embedded in the concrete soffit and the double glazed patio doors.

The new configuration adds useable space while connecting the kitchen, the relaxation area and a new dining zone in between. Preserving the shape of the original floorplan, the extension mirrors the roofline of the existing closet wing.

The structure of the single-storey extension is pink fair-faced concrete left exposed in the interior, setting the tone for the powdery colour scheme. The material palette is sensitive to the family’s decorations. The interiors are rich and varied, exemplified by a rustic chimney breast and a vintage wood-burner sitting on a pink concrete hearth, adorned with old photographs and paintings in the intimate dining area.

A variety of textures and finishes continues throughout the ground floor, with smooth bare plaster juxtaposed against crisp white ceilings and the rough surface of the concrete, proudly owning its board marks, air bubbles and visible aggregate.

The bespoke kitchen by Plykea contrasts with an eclectic and deliberately mismatched collection of furniture and trinkets. Adding to the sense of drama are discreet spotlights positioned to cast silhouettes of leaves on the walls and ceiling of the living area.

Nina Bailey, UK Design Manager at Formica Group, comments: ‘This extension is wonderful example of how powdery tones can be used to create a calming, relaxing space for the whole family. The pink concrete and kitchen fronts provide a neutral backdrop, perfect for displaying the owners’ colourful and diverse possessions. In such an all-encompassing role pink is a bold choice and may not be for everyone, but here it adds character and warmth yet doesn’t distract from the design’s focal points.’

www.formica.com

Photo by Andrew Ogilvy