Bethnal Green Worker’s Cottage

The refurbishment and extension of this East London 2-storey traditional worker’s cottage, part of the 1860s Jesus Green Hospital Conservation Area, was completed by BWA in early 2024.

The original ground floor, previously featuring several small rooms, has now been amalgamated into a single, generous open-plan dining/ kitchen/ living space, providing our client, a keen host, the ideal space for entertaining. The previous awkward side return has been extended into a full-width rear extension, connecting visually the internal spaces with a compact but charming south-facing garden, shaded by a mature olive tree.

One of the common issues that needs addressing in such narrow, deep-plan structures is the lack of natural light in habitable rooms. This has been addressed through the careful re-configuration of spaces and thoughtful positioning of rooflights, artfully flooding bedrooms and bathrooms on the upper floors with natural daylight.