“I want to do a basement like Tinie Tempah’s.”

A rural Cambridgeshire basement, conceived in a WhatsApp chat, delivered from RIBA Stages 0 to 5

This project started with a message, pinging into AJ's WhatsApp late one evening after Channel 4’s Extraordinary Extensions aired in 2021, hosted by Tinie Tempah: “I want to do a basement like Tinie Tempah’s.” A bold brief, and the kind of challenge we love. From that moment, we led the project from RIBA Stages 0 to 5, taking a spark of inspiration and turning it into a fully formed, 350 m² lifestyle level beneath a contemporary home in rural Cambridgeshire.

In planning terms, the rural setting kept amenity concerns low, so attention shifted to what sat above ground. We began by securing a clear fallback consent to establish principle and scale, giving a firm position if later discussions narrowed. With that in place, we submitted a second application that refined the massing and footprint and unlocked a modest increase in floorspace, all while staying comfortably within policy and context.

Inside, material choices and lighting are deliberately calm and timeless: tactile floors, warm joinery and carefully layered illumination that adapts from playtime to film night. Glazed screens amplify sightlines to the courtyard, so every space borrows light and feels part of a larger whole. The result is a level that expands the home’s possibilities every day, from morning workouts and mid‑week homework to immersive golf sessions and hosting friends.

Client verdict: “It’s like being above ground, underground.”

For us, this project is proof that the most ambitious briefs can be delivered with assurance when vision, engineering and planning strategy align. From first message to final snag, we owned the journey (Stages 0 through 5), so our client could simply look forward to turning the lights on and living it..

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Project Team

Architectural: Andrew Fleet Chartered Architectural Technologists 

Structural: Structural Engineers Cambridge Ltd

Geo-techincal: EPS Ltd

Waterproofing design: Delta Membranes

Internal joinery: Chardome 

Basement Frequently Asked Questions

1) How do you make a basement feel bright and uplifting?
Daylight first. We centre designs on features like sunken courtyards, generous glazing and layered lighting, so spaces read as calm and comfortable, not subterranean.

2) Can you build a new basement directly beside an existing house?
Yes. We coordinate the underpinning and temporary works strategy with your engineer and contractor to protect the existing fabric while creating the new level.

3) What if there is high groundwater?
We design a robust, multi‑layered waterproofing strategy and plan plant locations early, integrating resilience without compromising the architecture.

4) How do you manage neighbours during groundworks?
Clear method statements, monitoring and considerate working hours, paired with proactive communication, minimise disturbance and build trust.

5) Do you handle projects end to end?
We deliver from RIBA Stage 0 to Stage 6: brief, design, technical detailing and contract administration, so quality is protected from concept to completion.