Shaping Boundaries
Wandsworth, London
Shaping Boundaries is a modest Victorian house set within a locally listed terrace in Putney, a small, quietly handsome street with a strong sense of character. We were appointed to design a substantial extension that would transform how the house engages with its unusually generous garden, while respecting the sensitivities of its context.
The project has evolved through several iterations, gradually extending the ground floor to embrace the garden more fully. The new architecture wraps around the boundary to form a landscaped courtyard, carefully negotiating relationships with neighbouring houses and party walls: overlooking, daylight and acoustic performance were all central to the development of the design and its detailing.
The original house retains its role as threshold and retreat. A widened opening at the centre improves flow, while the front room remains a more intimate sitting space. Beyond, the extension opens into a contemporary garden-facing living area: kitchen, dining and sitting room arranged as a generous but articulated whole. An additional wing, also oriented towards the garden, accommodates a guest suite.
Alongside the spatial transformation, the project includes a careful upgrade of the existing fabric, the introduction of an air-source heat pump, and enhanced acoustic insulation along the principal boundary wall.
Currently on site, with foundations poured in February 2026, the house is due for completion in October 2026 — a reworking of a Victorian home that strengthens its relationship to garden, neighbours and contemporary life.
Architect
Unagru Architecture Urbanism
Project year
2026