This Peckham house extension by Turner Architects creates a new sitting area and kitchen at the rear of the home. The design draws inspiration from a bothy, a small hut traditionally found in the Scottish Highlands.
Historically, bothies were used by farm laborers and are now open shelters for hikers and climbers. Simple and often made of stone, they provide basic protection from the elements. The project translates this idea of shelter into a compact urban addition.
The extension is built from grounded, tactile materials. Brick forms the primary walls, while fired clay appears underfoot. Timber framing supports the structure and completes the restrained palette.
The architecture is intentionally direct. A single door and one window define the envelope, limiting openings while focusing attention toward the garden. The result is a small structure that reads as solid and protective.
Inside, the space is organized as a room for sitting, with a wood cabinet and shelf lining the wall. The single window becomes the focal point of the room, providing light and a view toward the small urban garden.
The matte green kitchen is compact yet functional, and has been integrated into the room rather than separated from it. Its layout encourages ease of movement, while the timber shelf creates a continuous line from the door to the kitchen.
This bothy-inspired extension transforms a home and garden into a quiet space. Turner Architects show how small spaces can hold both shelter and life, bringing calm and functionality to an urban plot.