When money is too tight to mention, ingenuity, deftness and craft can spread a long way. That was the case with Manyu Architects’ Disappearing Bathroom Project, the remodelling of an introverted Victorian terraced house in Forest Gate that still had change out of £75,000.

Remodelling an introverted Victorian terraced house into a bright, light and airy home, pushing daylight deep into the house, this design works within the fabric of the existing building rather than creating a new extension. Working within a tight budget and the existing area of a 64 sqm traditional Victorian terrace house to reconnect the house to the garden. The design demolished all internal partitions, relocated the stairs to the side, creating an open space that seamlessly connects living, dining, kitchen, bathroom and the garden. A spacious bathroom is provided at the rear of the building with a full-width window to the rear elevation. A full height bespoke bathroom door, opening in two parts, functions as moveable joinery; framing an unobstructed view to the back garden when opened and retained the privacy when closed. The bathroom is no longer simply a functional space but acts as an integral part of the ground floor layout, connecting inside to the outside. Externally, the hit and miss timber cladding conceals storage, display shelves, integrated planter, and incorporates an outdoor seating area. The new garden workshop has been positioned to the rear of the garden, finished with the same timber cladding.