Hidden box

This shabby, yet handsome, box hides an electricity substation. The site itself is also well hidden as it lies on a little used track that runs from Lawrence Road to Lock Road.

A large extension in Hardwicke Road

Yet another extension, this time in the Wates Estate on the corner of Hardwicke Road and Simpson Road. While it is far too early to judge what visual impact the substantial development will have on the area it is clear that it is being done with some thought.

The reason for taking this picture early in the process was to show the brickwork on the front of the extension which has the grey bricks at the bottom of the wall laid so that they for triangular projections from the wall. I like little touches like that as they can enliven the ordinary to make it special.

Update: Since taking this photo, on a further walk past to check on progress I had a long and useful conversation with the owner. I admire what he is trying to do and hope that the finished result lives up to that aspiration.

Attractive garden in Lock Road

I think I have pointed out a few gardens that I do not like recently, mostly because there is nothing left other than a driveway, so it is good to redress the balance by showing something nice.

This garden in Lock Road is simple and does everything right. Most of the garden is left to vegetation and while there is a lot of lawn there are also several things to break the monotony of grass. The crooked tree by the front door being just one example.

I also like the stained glass in the door and the small window next to it.

Remodelling an extension

In the continuing story of extensions in the area, this one is a little different. This house on the corner of Ham Street and Wiggins Lane already had an extension, one with a pitched roof, and I am not sure if that one has been replaced or reworked.

The new lines look good and I like the way that the extension mirrors the lines of dark brick in front of it.

Clearing out the Village Market

The Village Market has been closed for a while but, as with other shop closures in recent years, there is no great rush for anything to happen to the premises once the old shop has closed. After a few weeks some attempt is being made to clear up inside and the shop is pretty empty now.

From pink to grey

This house on the prominent junction of Sandy Lane and Clifford Road used to be a striking pink which made it irritatingly visible from a long distance, such as when travelling on a 65 up Petersham Road. It changed hands recently and the new owners have wisely changed it from pink to grey.

They have made other changes too and the overall appearance is fresh and modern, despite the obvious period shape. I like it.

Brick pillars in Sheridan Road

I owe this one to Richard Woolf who mentioned these unusual brick pillars in his talk on Modern architect in Ham. It just goes to show that you can wander around with eyes wide open looking for things and still miss them. My excuse is that there are only a few pillars like this in the road and that they are often at least partially obscured by cars.

The design is simple (a change of colour, a stepped top and a triangle at the summit) and very effective. It just goes to show how much impact little things can have.

Another extension

2017 seems to be the year for extensions and there are so many that I am finding it hard t track them all. That is my excuse for not remembering exactly where this is (the GPS on my camera is erratic and does not know where this is either) but I do know that it is in the Meadlands Drive / Buckingham Road area.

It is quite a large extension when compared to the size of the original house so it will be interesting to see what impact it has on the area when it is completed. It is encouraging that they have tried to match the brickwork and have done a reasonable job at it.

57 Ham Street

This is another photo that I had to wait a long time to take, and it was worth it.

I wanted to capture the view through the railings of the new Huf Haus in Ham Street but was prevented by the post box that still had the raw rough wood holding it in place. Finally the wood was removed and the post box was given the freedom it deserved.

The delay had its good point as the garden had grown in the meantime and was already impressive.