HomeInspire filmed this project with the homeowner, Mark, in July 2025, capturing the story behind this bold transformation in Walthamstow.

This Victorian terrace was reimagined with a dramatic three-storey cross-laminated timber (CLT) extension - a structure that was craned into place and assembled in just four days. Designed by Gresford Architects in close collaboration with environmentally conscious clients, the scheme reflects a strong commitment to sustainable design.

The project replaced a dated rear extension with a striking new kitchen and dining space, combining timber, steel, and concrete. At its heart is a sculptural black kitchen island, surrounded by soaring volumes and bathed in natural light. Roof and side extensions add further flexible living space, improving circulation and energy efficiency while respecting the home’s Victorian character.

Backyard garden with patio, potted plants, and a black modern extension on a brick house with satellite dishes.

A man standing at the entrance of a house, holding the door open, with a brick exterior and a hallway visible inside.

A Victorian Terrace Reimagined with a Bold CLT Extension

“We bought this house in 2016. It had been lived in by the same family for 25 years and not much had been done to it,” explains Mark. “We wanted to reimagine it - do something different. So we hired Gresford Architects with a brief to create a family home that blended the old and new. And when you hire an architect, you always hope they’ll come up with a big idea. This was the big idea.”

Renovation Journey: Crafting a Modern Family Home

The original Victorian terrace had been lived in for decades with minimal updates. Walls, extensions, and dated interiors were stripped back to reveal the original structure, giving the architects room to insert their bold CLT extension and modern interventions.

The renovation focused on maximizing space, light, and energy efficiency. Key interventions included removing the old rear extension, installing the prefabricated CLT frame over multiple floors in just four days, and creating open-plan living areas that flow seamlessly into the garden. Every decision — from roof angles to exposed concrete details — reinforced a balance of material honesty and family-friendly design.

Construction site with a partially built structure featuring a floating wooden floor supported by metal beams, surrounded by brick walls, ladders, tools, and construction materials under a cloudy sky.

Construction site with wooden wall panels, a metal ladder leaning against the structure, and tools on the floor.

A Wraparound Statement in Charred Timber

Clad in blackened timber to highlight its angular structure, the rear addition makes a bold statement against the more traditional streetscape. Inspired by the black net houses of Hastings, the charred finish creates a sense of continuity with the building’s CLT structure.

“It’s basically timber that’s been charred,” says Mark. “It speaks to what the building is - a wooden structure. We loved the idea that the material honesty runs inside and out.”

The new volumes rise over multiple floors, with varied roof angles that carve out dramatic interiors. The construction itself was completed in just four days, using a prefabricated CLT frame craned into place. “It was like a barn raising,” Mark recalls. “Very exciting to watch.”

Modern kitchen with black island, wooden ceiling, and large window overlooking garden.

The Kitchen as a Showpiece

The heart of the home is a sunken kitchen, lined with CLT and illuminated by skylights. The architects inserted a dramatic void above the dining area, creating soaring volumes and a playful connection between floors.

When it came to finishes, Mark leaned into bold simplicity. “I just thought, let’s have a big black island and no wall-hung cupboards at all - sleek and minimal,” he explains. The island houses both sink and hob, making it the functional core of the space.

Concrete continues as a theme, with a shuttered concrete feature wall and polished concrete floor with underfloor heating. “We really wanted the materiality to be consistent,” says Mark. “It feels honest and robust.”

Light, Volume, and Connection

The extension sits at a subtly lowered floor level, creating long sightlines from the front door through to the rear garden. This connection is reinforced upstairs, where the first-floor study overlooks the dining room and garden via a generous internal void.

Bedrooms and bathrooms are lined in pale CLT, their roof pitches accentuated by exposed beams and rooflights. Even services such as conduits are left visible, part of the home’s “pure architecture” language.

A row of brick houses with black and white window frames, brick fences, plants, and a tree with green leaves. One house has a small front garden with a bush, and a hanging lantern next to the door. Clouds are visible in the sky.

Living room with a large bay window, a black lounge chair, a gray sofa with decorative pillows, a wooden coffee table with candles, a guitar, and an area rug, with two red chairs in the foreground.

Interiors: Where Old Meets New

Inside, the home carefully balances heritage features with modern interventions. At the front, traditional sash windows were reinstated to match the neighbouring terraces, while at the rear, contemporary elements take centre stage.

One such detail is the bespoke concrete fireplace designed and built by Mark’s brother, who was also the project’s main contractor. “It’s tactile, it’s strong - it takes the room beyond the Victorian period interior,” Mark notes.

Throughout, a consistent palette of materials ties the spaces together: exposed brick, raw concrete, oak flooring, and warm timber finishes.

A man with gray hair and a beard, wearing a striped shirt and pink pants, stands in a modern backyard with black wooden and brick buildings, and garden furniture.

Living with CLT

For the family, the choice of CLT wasn’t just about speed of construction - it was about quality of life. “It’s a lovely material to live with,” Mark reflects. “It never needs redecorating, it retains heat in winter and stays cool in summer. Plus it locks in carbon — so it’s sustainable as well as beautiful.”

A Family Home, Reimagined

The project hasn’t just reshaped the architecture, but the way the family lives day-to-day. “Having two young kids, the open-plan layout is brilliant — they can run in and out,” Mark says. “At the same time, we know as they get older, we might add partitions to give more separation. It’s flexible — that’s the point.”

From Grand Designs magazine features to neighbourhood curiosity, the house has attracted plenty of attention. But for Mark, the result speaks for itself: “We went through all the classic renovation challenges - going over budget, living in rented, juggling kids and building work. But in the end, it was worth it.”

Project Credits

Architects: Gresford Architects

CLT Supplier: Construct CLT

Video Statistics

YouTube Views: 35,000 +

YouTube Impressions: 375,000 +

Instagram & TikTok Views: 240,000 +

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Copeland Road.