Continuing our review of the year we look at the house extensions that turned heads in 2021, including a polycarbonate-clad tower and a mirrored art gallery on stilts.

Photo is by Adam Scott
A Cloistered House, UK, by Turner Architects
In its renovation of an abandoned Georgian house in London, Turner Architects added a large rear extension that incorporates a pair of courtyards and a green roof.
The project, which was informed by monastic cloisters, contains a sequence of living spaces that leads out into the back garden. The courtyards are accessed through sliding doors, creating seamless links between the inside and outside when opened.
Find out more about A Cloistered House ?

Photo is by Caroline Dethier
Staying in Paris, France, by Java Architecture
Java Architecture introduced this six-by-four-metre tower to an old stone dwelling that was found hidden away in a courtyard in Paris.
The vertical extension contains three storeys of living spaces and is animated with a mix of different facade treatments, including slatted wood screens and translucent polycarbonate panels.
Find out more about Staying in Paris ?

Photo is by French + Tye
House Recast, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
One of the most experimental extensions on this list belongs to the House Recast, a Victorian home in London that was renovated by Studio Ben Allen for a retired couple.
The project, which won the Don't Move, Improve! 2021 contest, uses brightly coloured concrete for both its structural elements and...