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Subterranean living space with pool and clean-lined finishes in a Holland Park period home
Rear garden terrace above the subterranean extension at a period home in Holland Park
Curved lightwell bringing natural light into the subterranean extension below the Holland Park home
Subterranean pool and staircase within a contemporary lower ground extension in a Holland Park home
Lower ground pool space with staircase and integrated lighting in a Holland Park subterranean extension
Rear elevation of a Holland Park period home with steps leading to the lower ground extension
Overhead view of the rear garden with rooflights above the subterranean extension in Holland Park
Rear garden with terrace and steps down to the subterranean extension in a Holland Park hom
Built-in seating and pool edge detail within a subterranean extension in a Holland Park home
Reflections of natural light across pool water in a Holland Park subterranean extension
Subterranean living space with pool and clean-lined finishes in a Holland Park period home
Subterranean living space with pool and clean-lined finishes in a Holland Park period home

Holland Park Subterranean Extension, Kensington and Chelsea

Moving floor swimming pool under garden of Grade II* listed house.

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Subterranean living space with pool and clean-lined finishes in a Holland Park period home

An ambitious but discrete project in a sensitive context

This project involved the insertion of a moving-floor swimming pool beneath the rear garden of a grade II* listed house in Kensington and Chelsea.

The listed building, conservation area and RBKC planning policy on subterranean developments were all sensitive factors that we successfully managed with our design, detailing and construction of the new swimming pool extension.

Overhead view of the rear garden with rooflights above the subterranean extension in Holland Park
Rear elevation of a Holland Park period home with steps leading to the lower ground extension

Our design for the pool space occupied the maximum permissible proportion of the garden under Kensington and Chelsea’s planning restrictions on subterranean development.

The swimming pool incorporates a moving floor allowing the pool area to be used as a games room or entertainment space incorporating a home cinema as well as for swimming.

Subterranean pool and staircase within a contemporary lower ground extension in a Holland Park home
Lower ground pool space with staircase and integrated lighting in a Holland Park subterranean extension
Rear garden terrace above the subterranean extension at a period home in Holland Park
Curved lightwell bringing natural light into the subterranean extension below the Holland Park home

With the garden reinstated in a simple formal style there is little evidence from above of the complex technical achievements contained in the new heavily serviced space below.

Built-in seating and pool edge detail within a subterranean extension in a Holland Park home

Haines Phillips took the project from concept design through to completion of construction, during which time the owners continued to occupy the house.

Planning permission and listed building consent were granted following a very detailed submission including studies covering structural engineering, mechanical services, sustainable urban drainage matters and and construction procedures. 

Subterranean living space with pool and clean-lined finishes in a Holland Park period home

Building work was carried out under two separate contracts – one for the construction of the structural serviced shell and general finishes and fittings, and another for the moving floor, filtration and air handling equipment and pool finishes.

Location

The development is located in the borough of Kensington & Chelsea, West London.

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