how Whiteman Architects is keeping ‘Art Deco vibes’ in house overhaul

With up to 40 per cent of carbon emissions coming from the construction industry, the profession needs to find ways of adapting the type of buildings it designs, and fast. The default option for any project should be to adapt and re-use an existing building, one of the key demands of the AJ’s RetroFirst campaign.

Our ongoing series seeks to celebrate the projects that save buildings from demolition or give them a brand new life.

Lee Whiteman of Whiteman Architects

Tell us about the project
This project is all about giving a 1920s Art Deco house a fresh new look while keeping its charm. It’s in Riverdale Gardens, Twickenham, a stone’s throw from the river, and the plan is to extend, renovate, and update the cladding and windows.

The scheme will add a rear ground floor extension to create more living space; replace the old pitched roof with a flat roof and extension; give the façade a full makeover with new cladding and windows; and create a new-build outbuilding in the back of the garden.

The house is growing too – from 253m² to 320m² of floor space. That’s an extra 67m² of room to play with.

The houses on Riverdale Gardens are mostly red brick Queen Anne-style houses and typical semi-detached interwar houses. The house in question is detached and completely unique, standing out from the prevailing character of the street.

What were the challenges of the existing building?

The primary challenge, which also presented a unique opportunity, was the existing architectural style of the house. The clients were drawn to the property specifically because of its aesthetic, which meant that any proposed changes needed to strike a delicate balance between improving functionality and preserving the original character. Modernising and enhancing a house with a distinct style, while respecting its heritage, can often be a complex undertaking.

Meanwhile the rear building lines are all over the place. Some of the [neighbouring] houses have big extensions, some don’t. So there was room to push the design a little but no clear precedent.

And, although the house has an Art Deco vibe, it is not the best example of the style. Any changes needed to respect that style while still modernising it and enhancing the original intent

The property also boasted a garden that was slightly longer than those of the neighbouring houses. This presented an opportunity to extend the house and incorporate a substantial outbuilding without compromising too much outdoor space. However, it was essential to strike a balance between indoor and outdoor areas, ensuring that the garden retained its functionality and aesthetic appeal.

Had demolition ever been considered?
Initially, starting from scratch was considered, due to the extensive changes required. The costs of making these changes were comparable to starting anew. Therefore, from the outset, we evaluated the advantages of both options to ensure everyone had a clear understanding of the pros and cons of both directions.

How did you convince the client not to flatten the building?

Honestly, it just made sense to keep it. Here’s why:

• Eco-friendly choice – Knocking it down and starting over would’ve created a ton of waste and used way more materials.
• Retrofitting was likely cheaper than a full rebuild in the end.
• The house has great bones. The structure was solid, and keeping its Art Deco charm while making it modern was a win-win.
• The main reason the clients purchased this property was because how unique it was and starting afresh simply didn’t sit well.

What stayed? The core structure and overall form. What changed? The roof, new extensions, new cladding, and modernised windows.

Original ground floor plan (left); and proposed layout (right)

Aside from retaining the original fabric, what other aspects of your design reduce the whole-life carbon impact of the building?
The clients really went all-in on sustainability for this one. The cladding is timber composite, which looks great and keeps things eco-friendly; a more sustainable way of heating the house will be adopted, namely air source heat pumps. This will, in turn, require the house to be thermally more efficient and well-ventilated;  the newest Building Regs (June 2023) require better insulation, so the house will be warmer in winter and cooler in summer – the requirements of the insulation is ultimately on par with a new-build.

Even walls which are not required to be upgraded to suit the Building Regs will be upgraded to make the house generally more thermally efficient.

There are smart design tricks like retaining high ceilings to help with natural cooling and recessing windows to reduce overheating.

First gloor plan

Were the planners supportive of the proposals?

The planning officer initially intended to refuse the application, believing it would be out of character. He called us to give us the news that the application was going to be refused and offered the opportunity to withdraw the application if we preferred.

The planning officer intended to refuse the plans

However, digging deeper into this we were able to put across our view. We explained the existing house is currently at odds with the architectural character of Riverdale Gardens. While it was originally conceived with Art Deco influences, its execution was unsuccessful, resulting in a design that neither aligns with the surrounding streetscape nor stands as a strong example of the style it sought to embody.

Our proposal aims to address this by enhancing the existing building and elevating it into a well-executed and cohesive example of Art Deco architecture. Rather than replacing the structure entirely, we have taken a sensitive approach that respects its original intention while refining its proportions, detailing, and materiality to create a more authentic and celebrated contribution to the street.

What have been the main lessons from the project that you could apply to other developments?

Here are a few takeaways:

1. You don’t need to demolish to transform a space. This house went from dated to inspiring without losing its charm.
2. Sustainability isn’t always a choice – incorporating elements like thermal mass and effective insulation significantly reduces energy consumption. Due to updated Building Regulations, where altering 50 per cent of an element’s surface mandates compliance with improved U-values, the distinction between new builds and refurbishments is becoming less clear.
3. Context matters – picking up the phone and explaining to a planning officer the architectural intent can completely change the outcome of an application. The planning officer was only calling out of courtesy. If I did not answer, this project may not be going ahead.
4. Layouts matter just as much as size – they didn’t add a lot of floor space, but they completely reworked the floor plan to make better use of space.

Concept mark-up

Have you seen a change in approach to demolition and retrofit from clients?
Yes, but these are things we are seeing on most of our projects now! This is a great example of the shift toward retrofitting instead of rebuilding. More and more people are realising that retrofitting can often be a similar cost to a new build, it’s better for the environment, and that you can keep original architectural details and still modernise

Retrofits like this one are probably a bigger chunk of the workload now than they were a few years ago. Interestingly we are seeing experienced developers also exploring retrofitting instead of new builds. This is mainly down to cost rather than sustainability reasons but it is still encouraging to know there could be a market shift.

Riverdale Gardens – proposed outbuilding