On the level

There was success for the Segals the second time they participated in Architect in the House and were introduced to architect Brian Love.

Hayati and Jeff Segal live in a Victorian terraced house in London with a split–level ground floor separated by steps.

They wanted to stay in the family home to enjoy their retirement, but felt it needed adapting to make it more comfortable and accessible. Because of the layout, the only bathrooms were upstairs, which was impractical for elderly or disabled people.

So ‘one-level living’ was their main priority. And as a keen gardener, it was also very important for Hayati not to lose too much of her garden space to an extension.

Click the images to view at a larger size

Hayati and Jeff were perfect clients, because they knew their overall goal, but were very open to considering different ways to achieve it

Brian Love incorporated a downstairs wet room, a utility room, and a ramp entrance from the kitchen to the living room which altogether took up less than six feet of garden space.

At the same time the kitchen was extended and made much lighter with rooflights, and the dining area opens out onto the garden. Now the whole of the ground floor and the garden are step-free.

Brian commented: ‘Hayati and Jeff were perfect clients, because they knew their overall goal, but were very open to considering different ways to achieve it. This flexibility helped us to find a solution which satisfied all their requirements’.

Rear of the house with old under-used side passage. Click the images to view at a larger size

Thanks to Architect in the House, the Segals have kept the integrity of their existing home whilst adapting it to meet their needs. They are delighted with the results.