'Spring Residential' approached us in 2017 to look at the redesign of large family house in north London that already had planning consent by a previous architect.
The clients required a contemporary house that would suit their busy lives, while providing a great home for their family. Whilst the ground floor plan largely remained as the existing consent, the architectural language was simplified to have a stronger concept with a long rectangular first floor volume, spanning across the ground floor H-shaped plan.
The central part of the “H” comprises a large double-height entrance space, emphasised by a two-storey chimney, a sweeping helical staircase, and a living area commanding the central space of the house.
One of the legs of the “H” contains kitchen, dining and home office, while the other is service-orientated with garage, nanny’s room, plant, cinema and a spa area with pool, steam room and hot tub.
The first floor volume sits over the H-shape and contains four en-suite bedrooms to one side of the double height gallery. To the other side is a generous master bedroom with a spacious en-suite and dressing room. The bedroom enjoys a private balcony overlooking the garden.
The first floor volume is expressed as a lighter form utilising white render and contrasts with the solidity of the lower brick volume creating a clear architectural diagram.
The “H” creates and entrance courtyard to the road, where openings and windows are carefully considered to provide privacy while creating a welcoming entrance. Full height glazing surrounding the open plan kitchen, dining and living spaces opens up to a private courtyard and allow the house to feel transparent and connected with the landscaped garden.
Planning was granted in 2018 and the project is planned to start in early 2019 and complete mid 2020.
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