This thoughtfully designed canal-side home extension by William Tozer Associates seamlessly blends modern architectural elements with a nod to Italian architect Carlo Scarpa’s iconic style. The project integrates innovative design features, bold materiality, and a profound respect for the original character of the home, resulting in a space that is both functional and visually captivating.

The extension is carefully crafted to frame views of the adjacent canal, creating apertures that connect the home’s interior to the dynamic activity of its surroundings. Inside, an inverted box rooflight punctuates the dining area, bringing natural light into the space and establishing a seamless transition between the extension and the garden. This design element not only illuminates the room but also provides an ever-changing skyward view, offering a meditative focal point for residents.

In the open-plan kitchen, a sitting area is zoned by another rooflight, this time set into a deep reveal. The depth of this rooflight creates a sense of solidity, emphasising the ceiling and roof as architectural features. From the rear elevation, the structure’s composition is further expressed through the interplay of light and material.

The exposed steel frame of the new structure, coated in intumescent paint mimicking the red oxide primer traditionally used during construction, adds an industrial aesthetic. This finish creates the illusion of an ongoing construction phase, challenging conventional ideas of completion and permanence. The design’s raw, unfinished appearance speaks to the architectural narrative of transformation and renewal.

To bridge the extension with the original home, coloured films applied to glazed elements echo the polychromatic lead-light front door of the existing house. This subtle nod to the property’s heritage creates a dialogue between past and present, harmonising the new with the old.

The landscaping complements the architectural design by framing specific views and enhancing the connection to the canal. The result is a home that feels simultaneously grounded in its historical context and boldly forward-looking in its execution. Inspired by Carlo Scarpa’s philosophy of blending craftsmanship with material exploration, this extension is a masterful integration of form, function, and storytelling.