Home Extension of the Year
Newton Park Place is a sensitively bold oak-framed extension to a listed Victorian home in Chislehurst, designed to create contemporary living and dining spaces while strengthening the relationship with the garden. The architect set out to harmonise through contrast, pairing exposed oak structure with soft lime render and a wildflower roof to cultivate warmth and calm. The composition avoids pastiche, presenting a distinctly modern addition that sits comfortably with heritage, and uses natural materials and crafted detailing to deliver a serene, nature-led character.
The internal plan rejects a single open-plan super room, instead shaping a sequence of interconnected zones for family life. A skylit dining nook forms a focused place for meals, while a sun-soaked living area opens fully to the outdoors for seasonal flow. Externally, a pergola of oak joists offers shade, privacy and support for planting, extending the architecture into the landscape. Tactile oak finishes and a carefully integrated wine store turn day-to-day rituals into moments of quiet delight.
Sustainability is embedded, with locally sourced timber, wood fibre insulation, breathable construction and on-site renewables supporting a low-carbon, fossil fuel-free approach. The green roof enhances biodiversity and softens the building, while the lightweight, natural material palette reduces environmental impact and improves comfort. Throughout, the extension respects the historic fabric, maintaining a clear hierarchy between old and new and delivering a crafted, contextual response that feels both timeless and personal.
Judges praised the project for refined craft, architectural clarity and design maturity, citing a sensitive yet confident response to context. The coherence of detailing and the well-resolved plan were highlighted, as were measurable gains for nature and a strong, end-to-end sustainability ethos. Innovation in delivery at this small scale, effective stakeholder management and a successful challenge to the brief were commended. Several viewed it as category-leading, quietly radical and a joy to inhabit. One judge remarked: “This is the kind of project that raises the bar for extensions to historic homes.”
