{"id":26550,"date":"2026-05-01T12:36:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T12:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/26550\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T12:36:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T12:36:03","slug":"gs-architecture-retrofits-hampstead-passive-house-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/26550\/","title":{"rendered":"GS Architecture retrofits Hampstead Passive House in London"},"content":{"rendered":"

Local studio GS Architecture has completed its renovation<\/a> and extension<\/a> of a family home in Hampstead Heath, London<\/a>, updating it to meet low-energy Passivhaus<\/a> standards.<\/p>\n

Named Hampstead Passive House, the semi-detached Victorian home was overhauled to create a more comfortable, light-filled dwelling with significantly reduced energy consumption.<\/p>\n

\"HampsteadGS Architecture has retrofitted a home in Hampstead Heath<\/p>\n

GS Architecture<\/a> set out to achieve the rigorous Passivhaus EnerPHit standard, which certifies low-energy buildings that have been refurbished with high levels of insulation and airtightness.<\/p>\n

It upgraded the house with improved insulation and triple-glazed windows, while introducing solar panels, low-energy lighting and a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system.<\/p>\n

\"Timber-framedA timber-framed extension houses the kitchen and dining space<\/p>\n

“Sustainability was central to the brief \u2013 the clients were committed to creating a home that performed as efficiently as possible, and Passivhaus EnerPHit offered a clear and ambitious benchmark for the project,” GS Architecture partner Guy Stansfeld told Dezeen.<\/p>\n

“A fabric-first approach underpinned the design, with careful attention given to insulation, airtightness and breathability,” added Stansfeld.<\/p>\n

“The use of wood fibre insulation and traditional lime plaster was key, allowing the existing building shell to be made airtight while still breathable.”<\/p>\n

\"HampsteadReclaimed snooker-table slate was used for kitchen worktops<\/p>\n

As part of the project, GS Architecture replaced the home’s existing conservatory and extensions with a new timber-framed addition.<\/p>\n

Topped with a wildflower green roof<\/a>, this rear extension houses an open-plan kitchen and dining space, with timber doors opening out into the garden.<\/p>\n

\"LondonInsulation, airtightness and breathability were key priorities<\/p>\n

Inside, the space combines a variety of timber elements, including the kitchen island and cupboard fittings, the dining table and a built-in bookcase.<\/p>\n

Timber finishes appear alongside reclaimed materials such as old snooker-table slate used for the kitchen worktops, complete with original brass studs and pocket cutouts.<\/p>\n

\"HampsteadClay from the garden was mixed into the lime-based wall paint<\/p>\n

Other reclaimed and repurposed elements include salvaged floorboards used to line the extension’s ceiling and for internal door facings, while cupboard doors are made from former cheese-manufacturing boards.<\/p>\n

According to the studio, new materials and finishes were carefully selected to avoid petrochemical-based products. Clay from the rear garden was mixed into the lime-based paint for the walls, contributing to its natural look.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Panoramic<\/p>\n

Mata Architects adds timber-clad Panoramic House extension to Hampstead home\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

A wide opening connects the kitchen-dining room to a sitting room beyond, complete with the same pale timber flooring, natural palette and matching bookshelves.<\/p>\n

Working alongside GS Architecture, designer Boris Vervoordt introduced a palette based on the Japanese design philosophy of Wabi-sabi, which celebrates imperfection.<\/p>\n

\"VictorianThe home’s original staircase was preserved<\/p>\n

Existing features were preserved to retain the home’s character, including the original curving timber staircase.<\/p>\n

Upstairs are three bedrooms, complete with the same pared-back palette, with pale timber cupboards and floorboards, and a neutral colour scheme.<\/p>\n

\"HampsteadA pared-back material palette is used in the bedrooms<\/p>\n

“Texture plays a leading role in shaping the atmosphere of the home,” said Stansfeld. “Lime plaster walls create a subtle sense of movement and warmth,” he described.<\/p>\n

“Natural materials such as timber, slate and limestone add depth and variation, while the colour palette remains grounded and earthy.”<\/p>\n

\"HampsteadTraditional Moroccan waterproof plaster was used in the bathrooms<\/p>\n

In the bathrooms, dark tiles are paired with dark Tadelakt walls and ceilings, a traditional Moroccan waterproof plaster, chosen by the studio for its natural breathability.<\/p>\n

Other homes designed to Passivehaus standards recently featured on Dezeen include a house in Chile featuring multiple courtyards<\/a> and “the largest Passive House building in Canada”<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The photography is by Matt Clayton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Project credits:<\/p>\n

Architect: GS Architecture
Energy consultant: Ecospheric
Structural engineer: MBOK
Kitchen joinery: Brockhampton
Main contractor: OLF Construction
Interior design: Axel Vervoordt Co<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Local studio GS Architecture has completed its renovation and extension of a family home in Hampstead Heath, London,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26551,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[173,4619,11902,27,535,11903,538,540,541,5],"class_list":{"0":"post-26550","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-england","9":"tag-extensions","10":"tag-green-roofs","11":"tag-london","12":"tag-london-house-extensions","13":"tag-passivhaus","14":"tag-residential-extensions","15":"tag-sectionall","16":"tag-sectionarchitecture","17":"tag-uk"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116499354972033295","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}