It was both time to leap ship or to reinvent their north London townhouse. After nearly 40 a long time of residing underneath the same leaky roof, Russell Vandyk and Alan Martin Day, both equally retired, daringly selected the latter. The few hired Studio Ben Allen to include a two-story extension on to the again of their terraced Victorian. The ask came with a bonus every design workforce longs for: they ended up inspired, claims Allen, to “use the challenge as a testbed for concepts.”
In response, the architects, led by Allen and Omar Ghazal, took the opportunity to “push the boundaries of off-web page fabrication, some thing we felt was lacking in small-scale residential assignments.” Specially, they applied prefabricated pigmented concrete on equally the exterior and inside, as structural components that are also attractive many thanks to Studio Allen’s daring use of coloration and curves. The addition now houses a double-peak new skylit kitchen area with a mezzanine that connects to the present principal stair and prospects to a quite memorable new bath. And there’s much more: Vandyk and Day essentially gained an entirely new dwelling that however retains highlights of the original—and has earned a whole lot of appreciation from the United kingdom style neighborhood. Dubbed The House Recast, the transform was named “best new property advancement project” of 2021 in the NLA’s once-a-year “Don’t Move, Increase!” contest. Sign up for us for a tour.
Previously mentioned: The 1892 dwelling has a conventional façade and an eye-opening again exterior of forged concrete: scalloped columns and beams the shade of verdigris body salmon wall panels that front the new upstairs lavatory. “We chose these colors mainly because they’re related to the copper and terracotta utilized on some of the local Victorian properties of note,” says Allen.
Earlier mentioned: The concrete hues had been produced using earth pigments. Adds Allen: “We had been not only motivated by the color but the honesty of Victorian architecture: the brickwork is ornamental but it’s also load-bearing.” The new exterior and interior elements have been made off site and effectively installed in a make a difference of times. The extension is 142 square meters (somewhere around 1,500 square feet).Previously mentioned: The architects launched a dramatic double-top kitchen with a vaulted louvered ceiling and a mezzanine that “allow mild to penetrate deep into the household,” says Allen. The supports, island, and counter are all cast concrete the exterior and structural aspects are the perform of Cornish Concrete Products and the inside designs are by Concreations. The kitchen area cabinets are made of oak triply composed of a few levels of reliable wooden.
“There employed to be a small galley kitchen with only 1 window and a dining table squidged up versus it, and the backyard garden was just a scrappy little bit of land,” Vandyk explained to The Present day House. “It’s not as if we ended up indifferent or sloppy,” extra Working day. “The household just was not really at the centre of our universe. When we ended up youthful, we experienced various priorities. A lot of our everyday living was outside. Now, it is about dwelling comforts.”
Higher than: The sink has an integrated drainboard of pigmented concrete and a faucet from Dornbracht’s Tara selection. Be aware the handy created-in towel bar.
Of late, there is been a lot of problem in the style world about the higher-carbon value of developing concrete. Eco-friendlier versions—aka “green concrete”—are now surfacing, but Allen claims that this task sadly predated the latest discussion.
Over: An arched opening and concrete ways connection the kitchen to the dining place.Over: A person of the redesign themes was “trying to build link points all over the property,” Allen explained to the NLA (New London Architecture) discussion board. The textured partitions are lime plaster.Previously mentioned: Vandyk and Working day owned a prop making company ahead of embarking on their rework. “As you get older you take pleasure in possessing a extra aesthetic dimension to your existence,” Working day explained to The Guardian in a spotlight on the residence. “Luxury is not about cruises or high-priced sofas it’s about elegance.”Higher than: The room retains its unique mantel and extensive-plank flooring. The D-finished dining table is a Studio Ben Allen style. Earlier mentioned: A further archway connects the eating space to the entrance corridor. The door in the history sales opportunities to the residing room. Don’t Move, Boost! judge Tom Foxall commented on the venture: “It is not just an extension it is a route via the constructing and spatially pretty fascinating. It will work amazingly perfectly architecturally,”Higher than: Subsequent to the dwelling home fireplace, a hatch opens to the kitchen area enabling the individual at the sink to take component in the dialogue and pass meals again and forth. “These connections have created the house feel so much extra sociable,” Vandyk informed The Guardian.Previously mentioned: The architects produced the mezzanine’s blue balustrade on their own: it is composed of Valchromat, a as a result of-coloration substantial-density fiberboard that they slash out with a CNC router and sent as a kit of pieces. The small corner is made use of as a “reading nook.”Previously mentioned: The principal tub is a hamman-fashion wet place completely composed of pre-fabricated pigmented concrete. Like the kitchen area, it has a vaulted louvered ceiling. The overhead tubular brass factor is a custom shower head.
The design was influenced by architect Omar Ghazal’s Jordanian heritage, and by Center Japanese references in Victorian architecture, these as at Leighton Residence, the Holland Park home of painter Sir Frederic Leighton.
Previously mentioned: The architects experienced the fixtures manufactured for the space. The window display screen is Tricoya, a waterproof MDF that was CNC lower and then painted to match the rosy salmon that seems elsewhere. There’s a mirror tucked inside the cupboard doorway about the sink.
“Alan’s argument was, if we limit them, we’re not going to conclude up with something very fascinating,” Vandyk commented to The Fashionable House. Extra Working day: “There was a pretty shut collaboration in the consultations, but we under no circumstances challenged anything…We’re so joyful that we did not get started tutting and saying no…We have the feeling of rootedness mainly because we have been right here since 1980, and still a thing so imaginative has been performed.” For much more, observe the NLA’s Do not Go, Improve! online video on the job.