Sunken Bath Project named London's best new house extension

Sunken Bath Project named London's best new house extension in Don't Move, Improve! 2017

A garden room containing a sunken Japanese-style bath has won top prize in a competition to find London's best new house extensions.

Designed by local office Studio 304 to extend a ground-floor flat in Clapton, east London, the Sunken Bath Project was named winner of 2017's Don't Move, Improve! awards this evening.

The small extension was praised by the jury for its compelling design, which offers ritual Japanese bathing to its occupants.

Sunken Bath by Studio 304 — Sunken Bath Project, Clapton, by Studio 304 Architecture won first prize

Don't Move, Improve! is organised by New London Architecture (NLA) – an independent forum dedicated to new architecture and construction – in association with Dezeen, Clippings and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Any home extension or improvement project completed within the last two years in one of London's 33 boroughs is eligible for entry into the competition.

This year's winners were selected by a panel of judges that included Dezeen editor Amy Frearson, architect Carl Turner, Ash Sakula co-founder Cany Ash and Levitt Bernstein co-director Jo McCafferty.

Second prize went to Molyneux Street by Patrick Lewis Architects

Second prize was awarded to Patrick Lewis Architects for a Marylebone extension featuring a lookout post clad in wooden shingles.

Third place was won by a garden studio dedicated to rug making, created by Nic Howett Architects for just £25,000.

The judges also gave a special commendation to Kirkwood McCarthy for the black zinc-clad wing it added to the rear of a Muswell Hill house, creating a light-filled living space that sits between the garden and a new courtyard.

The Rug Room by Nic Howett came in third place

A series of special prizes were also handed out in recognition of specific achievements.

Simon Astridge Architecture Workshop won for Best Interior Design, with the clever detailing of its Clay House in Tufnell Park, while Best Use of Materials was awarded to Erbar Mattes for its limewashed brick and glass extension to a house in Crouch End.

The comprehensive overhaul of an old four-storey university house by Studio 30 Architects was given the Best Value award, while R2 Studio Architects won Best Historic Intervention with its colourful revamp of a 1960s council house.

The Most Innovative prize was presented to Studio McLeod for a Kilburn extension featuring a roof garden and curvy lightwells.

Pages Lane by Kirkwood McCarthy received a special commendation

A free exhibition of all 120 long-listed projects will run go on show in NLA's galleries at The Building Centre from 27 January to 29 March 2017.

Londoners wanting to extend their homes will also be able to attend free one-to-one advice sessions on Saturday 25 February, by signing up on the NLA website.

Meanwhile the Shop the Look website, created with Clippings, allows them to buy the furniture and lighting featured in all shortlisted projects.

Here's an overview of all of the winners: