The owner of a semi-detached 1950s semi in Hampton, Surrey, contacted Russian for Fish with an intriguing proposition: transform the garage on the corner plot beside his house into a three-storey two-bedroom home. Inspired by the challenge of fitting a comfortably sized house in such a small space, we designed a wedge-shaped property in dark brick, with bedrooms on the ground and first floors and an open-plan living room/kitchen in the basement. The darkness of the underground floor was addressed with the inclusion of light wells to the front and back. Although more modern in style, the design respected the existing aesthetic and proportions of the other houses on the street, with a reduced roof height to maximise light and prevent the building dominating the streetscape.