North London House in Domus and DMI awards
14th May 2019
Our maisonette extension and refurbishment in north London has been featured in several blogs and exhibitions this month, including Domus, Leibal, Afasia and the Don’t Move Improve 2019 awards
The project was for boutique stationer Neil and graphic designer Mark. The property was reconfigured and extended, and a rear toilet block demolished to create a series of connected spaces that improve the physical and visual link to the garden.
| The new kitchen, dining and study spaces are informally defined by exposed oak posts and beams, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the lower ground floor plan. |
Soap washed timber bounces soft light around the house, enhancing the layered internal partitions. Framed views are created between the spaces and direct the eye towards the lush green backdrop outside.
Orthogonal grids and patterns run through the property with bricks in a variety of bonds externally, and square tiles with contrasting colour grout lines to the kitchen and bathroom. In the kitchen, the lines from the raw oak beams run through the kitchen cabinets, splash back tiles, and terrazzo tiled floor.
This contemporary, geometric approach is contrasted with refurbished traditional details on the upper floor. The large skirting boards were painted to match the walls for a pared back and harmonised finish.
| The depth of the rear extension was defined by an existing upstairs neighbour’s stair, which had to be retained to allow access to their garden. |
Peterson bricks, akin to the tone of whitewashed London stock, cover the rear as it tucks underneath the stair. Fluted glass reduces the impact of this stair when viewed from the new study below. Garden life is brought right through the house from potted plants in the kitchen to a large planter in the hall.
The home was completed for a modest budget but with significant benefits for the clients. The property now compliments the considered and detailed approach that Neil and Mark bring to their work. The clients put significant energy into decorating, sourcing discounted fixtures and furniture, all allowing the budget to be pushed to the maximum.
| Budget and cost informed the design from outset, rather than being cost-saving afterthoughts that comprised the design. |
The size limitations of the budget-conscious glazing system influenced the graphic arrangement of the varied brick courses. The terrazzo tiles with matching grout also give the impression of a site poured terrazzo floor for a fraction of the cost.
Neil and Mark were deeply engaged in the process, leading to a home that is truly theirs. Like a neatly ruled grid in a stationer’s notebook, the house is all in order.
