PROJECTS BASEMENT CONVERSIONS
Sketch Architects (sketch-architects.co.uk) transformed the cellar of this south-west London terraced home, linking it to the ground floor with a new staircase. See more of the project overleaf
Going underground Expert advice on converting a cellar or basement into valuable extra living space WORDS JENNIFER GRIMBLE
By and large, the rooms below ground level in period homes were not designed to be living spaces. Often used for storage, they can be gloomy and damp, with low ceilings and awkward access. The potential complexity of adapting these subterranean spaces calls for specialist knowledge. ‘There are few instances where a conversion isn’t feasible. But there are some limiting factors,’ explains Rosie Caley of the OLBC Group (olbc.co.uk). ‘It may be necessary to excavate beneath the house, in which case the ground conditions must be suitable. The height of the water table will also affect the project’s viability. A home near a water course, a river, or with an exceptionally high water table can prove more expensive as the space needs to be pumped dry during construction,’ says Rosie.
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