London's innovative home extensions celebrated as NLA reveals shortlist for 2019 Don't Move, Improve! competition

In the UK's airtight housing market, a growing number of homeowners are building upwards, outwards, and downwards, in order to create a bit more space. Above a 19th century warehouse flat in London, a water tower was recently converted by FORMStudio to create additional living space and a rooftop terrace. In nearby Hackney, the design practice IF_DO extended an existing apartment situated within a former synagogue with triangulated roof. 

Both projects, along with a zero-waste renovation, a loft library, a converted chapel and others, have been shortlisted for the New London Architecture's Don't Move, Improve! Awards. Now in its eighth year, the competition celebrates the best in home extensions and renovation projects across London. In total, 37 projects have been selected that showcase innovative and ingenious ways of finding new space and helping homeowners realize their dream property. 

"There is a wealth of talent among architectural practices in London delivering very beautiful additions to existing homes," says Peter Murray, Chairman of NLA. "There is also a real incentive for owners to create additional space instead of moving...From the wider perspective of development in London these improvements make better use of existing housing stock and help to deliver additional living space in our crowded city." 

Below, take a look at some of the distinguished home improvements and see the full shortlist.

• Algiers Road by Gruff Limited
• The Black Curve by Ar'Chic
• Breakout Extension—Crouch End by KNOTTARCHITECTS

• Brockley House by SAM Architects
• Capel by Craftworks
• Claylands Road by Conibere Philips Architects Limited

• Cornerstone House by Merrett Houmoller Architects
• Crouch End House by Catriona Burns Architects
• Dartmouth Park Family House by Pardon Chambers Architect

• Dusheiko House by Neil Dusheiko Architects
• 3 Elm Close by Ulla Gala Architects
• 16 Ewelme Road by uvarchitects

• Folded Wedge Townhouse by Russell Hunt Architects
• Folded House by Proctor & Shaw
• Garden House by Teatum + Teatum and Noiascape

• Hackney Extension by Proctor & Shaw
• Highbury New Park by Appleton Weiner
• King's Grove by Al-Jawad Pile

• Lauriston Road by Gundry + Ducker
• levels ten + eleven by con | from architects
• Link Building by Powell Tuck Associates

• Loft Library by Arboreal Architecture
• Long House by R2 Studio Architects
• Micheldever Road by Meme Architects

• Mies X King George by CAN
• Montague Court by IF_DO
• outhouse-in by con | form architects

• Reuse Flat by Arboreal Architecture
• Roslyn Road by Magri Williams Architects
• Sash House by Tigg + Coll Architects

• Scissor Truss House by Studio MESH
• Shad Thames Water Tower by FORMstudio
• Stego by Archmongers

• Step House by Bureau de Change Architects
• Tile House by Beasley Dickson Architects
• Tower House by Dominic McKenzie Architects
• Woodworker's Studio by Bradley Van Der Straeten