ABBOTSBURY GARDENS
LONDON

A single-storey rear and side extension in Abbotsbury Gardens, London, creating a bright, open-plan living space with a luxurious finish. MMHM Structures Ltd provided structural design services, developing refined, efficient engineering solutions that balanced architectural ambition with cost-effective delivery.

Location

London

Area

80 sqm

Timeline

2025 - present

Year

2025

This project reimagines a classic London residence through the addition of a contemporary single-storey rear and side extension. The transformation introduces a bright, free-flowing kitchen and living area at ground level—designed to maximise natural light and establish a seamless connection between the interior and garden. The result is a refined, open-plan environment that enhances both day-to-day living and the property’s long-term appeal.

MMHM Structures Ltd provided the complete structural design package, working hand-in-hand with the lead architect to create a solution that blended elegance with practicality. Every element of the design was carefully considered to ensure that the new structure integrated seamlessly with the existing fabric of the home, maintaining architectural integrity while delivering strength, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

WHAT WE DID

The structure was meticulously engineered to achieve uninterrupted internal spaces—aligning with the architect’s vision for openness and light. New structural columns were discreetly placed and concealed within key internal walls, preserving visual clarity and a sense of spaciousness throughout. This approach allowed the architecture to lead the experience, with structure performing quietly in the background.

Key structural features include:

  • Foundations: A combination of mass concrete strip and pad foundations, together with steel ground beams encased in concrete, designed specifically for London clay conditions to distribute building loads efficiently and provide long-term stability.
  • Superstructure: Concealed steel sections form the backbone of the upper structure, supporting extended masonry walls, new and existing roof elements, and the retained first-floor structure. This ensured structural continuity, robustness, and a seamless architectural finish.

OUR APPROACH

From the earliest stages, MMHM Structures adopted a collaborative, detail-driven approach—balancing technical expertise with creative design thinking. 

Working closely with the architect, the team developed a structural strategy that supported buildability and cost control without compromising the project’s architectural ambition. 

Each component—from foundations to framing—was refined to deliver performance, functionality, and enduring value.

WHAT THIS DEMONSTRATES

  • Design Efficiency: Every structural decision was made in pursuit of simplicity, strength, and elegance. By introducing carefully concealed columns, the framing was optimised to reduce long spans while maintaining a free-flowing layout. The result is a light-filled, open interior where space and proportion define the experience rather than structure.
 
  • Adaptability: The design brief called for a clean, luxurious interior—walls uninterrupted by visible supports and finishes of the highest quality. MMHM Structures responded with a cost-effective engineering solution that discreetly underpinned the architecture. The final design delivered both the desired visual refinement and construction efficiency, ensuring the project achieved excellence in both design and delivery.
 
  • Collaboration: The success of the project was founded on close collaboration between architectural and structural disciplines. Through continuous coordination and shared vision, the teams refined every detail to achieve a design that is both technically sound and visually seamless—an elegant balance between performance and artistry.
 
  • Value-driven design: At the heart of this project lies the belief that structure and architecture should elevate one another. Through intelligent, efficient engineering, the design achieves timeless quality within a commercially responsible framework—demonstrating that beautiful architecture can be both aspirational and pragmatic.

OUR ROLE

  • Structural design of all primary and secondary elements, including beams, columns, and foundations.
 
  • Development of innovative structural solutions to minimise beam spans while retaining the open-plan intent.
 
  • Coordination with the architectural team to optimise design efficiency, buildability, and construction practicality.
 
  • Ongoing structural involvement throughout the design and construction phases to maintain quality, compliance, and project value.

Another
Happy client

If you have a project that needs Structural Engineering support, then get in touch with us.

We would be happy to provide our expertise!

 

 

 

Contact us Today
More Projects