White Patio House by Pashenko Works – A Contemporary Reinvention of the Victorian Terrace

Located in London, United Kingdom, the White Patio House by Pashenko Works is a striking renovation and extension of a traditional Victorian terrace house. Completed in 2021, this 190 m² project transforms the conventional terraced home with garden into a patio house, reimagining dense urban living through a thoughtful sequence of architectural spaces.

Redefining the Victorian Terrace

The project serves as a prototype for urban living, carefully maximizing development within local planning constraints. Instead of simply extending the home, the architects redefined the typology—turning a garden-backed terrace into a patio-centered residence. This new layout enriches the daily experience of living in a congested cityscape, offering light-filled interiors, spatial flow, and strong connections to nature.

Spatial Journey Through Five Parts

The house unfolds as a journey of five key architectural moments:

1. The original Victorian terrace facing Harbour Road
2. A glazed atrium “bridge” bringing daylight into the home
3. Contemporary extensions at ground and first levels
4. A central patio garden as the heart of the residence
5. A garden room at the far end of the site

This sequence of spaces is designed both horizontally and vertically. The ground floor remains open and social, ideal for family life. The first floor is divided into private rooms for guests and children, while the newly added mansard roof houses the master suite—an elevated sanctuary filled with quiet and natural light.

The Glass Atrium – A Memory Bridge

One of the project’s defining features is the glass “bridge” atrium, which links the historic structure with new volumes. Acting as a conceptual and physical connector, it channels daylight deep into the home while recalling the spatial memory of the original building.

Materials Inspired by Belgian Brutalism

The design draws inspiration from Belgian brutalism, using exposed blockwork with recycled content to frame the entire perimeter of the site. Steel beams, columns, and metal decking remain visible, creating an honest material palette. The façade of the new extension is clad in off-white corrugated steel sheets, paired with aluminum window frames and doors. This combination introduces a sense of lightness and subtle reflection, while blending seamlessly with the white tones of the surrounding urban fabric.

Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Connection

A key ambition of the project was to dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior. Minimal sliding profiles, shared material palettes, and consistent light fixtures unify the garden with indoor spaces, making the home feel like one continuous architectural environment.

The White Patio House is more than a renovation; it is a vision for modern city living. By merging heritage with contemporary design, Pashenko Works demonstrates how dense urban housing can be both spatially rich and experientially rewarding, offering a blueprint for the future of London’s residential architecture.

All Photographs are works of Stijn Bollaert