Home Extension of the Year (over 2,500 sq ft)
The Space Between by Matthew Giles Architects
The Space Between is an architect-designed home extension and garden annexe for a private house in Highgate, shaped around a steep and challenging site. The proposal focuses on connecting the house, garden and topography through a carefully choreographed arrangement of spaces that responds directly to the landform and the client's brief.
The design uses level changes as a key organising device, with internal spaces stepping and rising in line with the slope. This creates a clear relationship between inside and outside, while a green roof and considered material palette help the extension sit naturally within its setting. The result is a calm, integrated addition that emphasises landscape-led thinking and spatial sequencing.
Judges praised the project for its seamless relationship with the garden landscape, its elegant handling of changing levels and the quality of its material choices. They described it as an exceptional piece of architectural thinking, noting that architecture and topography are inseparable here, and commended the mature, assured response to the site and brief.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID:
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Beautiful consideration and execution of materials. The extension sits peacefully and seamlessly within the garden landscape. The significant level changes are gently and beautifully articulated. A stand out!
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An exceptional piece of architectural thinking where landscape, topography and architecture are inseparable, creating a sequence of spaces that are both spatially sophisticated and deeply connected to the site, demonstrating outstanding design maturity.
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The internal areas also step and rise with the Landscape, which creates a strong link with the Landscape. A green roof is also integrated reinforcing this link. A very successful response to the client's brief. Architecture and Topography successfully integrated, materiality well considered and interesting internal arrangement.
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