A Colorful, Architecturally Adventurous London Victorian Terrace House Remodel

By Jenny J. Richards 6 months ago

It was both time to jump ship or to reinvent their north London townhouse. Following almost 40 decades of living under the similar leaky roof, Russell Vandyk and Alan Martin Working day, both retired, daringly selected the latter. The pair hired Studio Ben Allen to add a two-tale extension onto the back again of their terraced Victorian. The request arrived with a bonus each individual style group longs for: they have been encouraged, says Allen, to “use the job as a testbed for ideas.”

In reaction, the architects, led by Allen and Omar Ghazal, took the opportunity to “push the boundaries of off-web-site fabrication, something we felt was missing in compact-scale residential tasks.” Specifically, they employed prefabricated pigmented concrete on equally the exterior and inside, as structural aspects that are also ornamental thanks to Studio Allen’s daring use of shade and curves. The addition now residences a double-height new skylit kitchen area with a mezzanine that connects to the existing major stair and qualified prospects to a incredibly unforgettable new bath. And there is additional: Vandyk and Day fundamentally attained an completely new dwelling that nevertheless retains highlights of the original—and has attained a whole lot of appreciation from the British isles layout local community. Dubbed The House Recast, the rework was named “best new property advancement project” of 2021 in the NLA’s annual “Don’t Shift, Increase!” contest. Sign up for us for a tour.

Photography by French + Tye, courtesy of Studio Ben Allen.

the \189\2 house has a traditional façade and an eye opening back exterior 9
Higher than: The 1892 home has a regular façade and an eye-opening back exterior of solid concrete: scalloped columns and beams the shade of verdigris frame salmon wall panels that entrance the new upstairs bathroom. “We selected these colors because they’re comparable to the copper and terracotta applied on some of the area Victorian structures of observe,” suggests Allen.

the concrete colors were created using earth pigments. adds allen:
Above: The concrete hues have been produced utilizing earth pigments. Provides Allen: “We had been not only inspired by the colour but the honesty of Victorian architecture: the brickwork is ornamental but it’s also load-bearing.” The new exterior and inside features were made off web page and competently mounted in a subject of times. The extension is 142 sq. meters (roughly 1,500 sq. ft).
the architects introduced a dramatic double height kitchen with a vaulted louve 11
Higher than: The architects released a spectacular double-peak kitchen with a vaulted louvered ceiling and a mezzanine that “allow mild to penetrate deep into the residence,” says Allen. The supports, island, and counter are all forged concrete the exterior and structural components are the get the job done of Cornish Concrete Products and the inside models are by Concreations. The kitchen cupboards are produced of oak triply composed of three layers of sound wood.

“There applied to be a modest galley kitchen with only just one window and a dining table squidged up against it, and the garden was just a scrappy bit of land,” Vandyk instructed The Modern Home. “It’s not as if we have been indifferent or sloppy,” included Working day. “The dwelling just was not really at the middle of our universe. When we have been young, we experienced different priorities. A lot of our lifestyle was outdoor. Now, it is about residence comforts.”

the sink has an integrated drainboard of pigmented concrete and a faucet from d 12
Above: The sink has an integrated drainboard of pigmented concrete and a faucet from Dornbracht’s Tara vary. Note the handy constructed-in towel bar.

Of late, there is been a great deal of problem in the structure earth about the higher-carbon price of producing concrete. Eco-friendlier versions—aka “green concrete”—are now surfacing, but Allen suggests that this task unfortunately predated the present discussion.

an arched opening and concrete steps link the kitchen to the dining room. 13
Over: An arched opening and concrete methods hyperlink the kitchen area to the eating area.
one of the redesign themes was
Above: Just one of the redesign themes was “trying to make link points all over the residence,” Allen advised the NLA (New London Architecture) forum. The textured partitions are lime plaster.
vandyk and day owned a prop making business before embarking on their remodel. 15
Above: Vandyk and Day owned a prop producing company in advance of embarking on their rework. “As you get more mature you recognize getting a a lot more aesthetic dimension to your existence,” Day informed The Guardian in a highlight on the home. “Luxury is not about cruises or pricey sofas it’s about elegance.”
the room retains its original mantel and wide plank flooring. the d ended dinin 16
Earlier mentioned: The area retains its first mantel and extensive-plank flooring. The D-finished dining desk is a Studio Ben Allen design. the room retains its original mantel and wide plank flooring. the d ended dinin 17Previously mentioned: One more archway connects the dining space to the entrance hall. The door in the history prospects to the dwelling space. Don’t Go, Strengthen! decide Tom Foxall commented on the venture: “It isn’t just an extension it’s a route by the setting up and spatially pretty fascinating. It functions amazingly nicely architecturally,”
next to the living room fireplace, a hatch opens to the kitchen enabling the pe 18
Earlier mentioned: Subsequent to the dwelling room fireplace, a hatch opens to the kitchen enabling the man or woman at the sink to take aspect in the discussion and go foods back again and forth. “These connections have designed the dwelling sense so considerably a lot more sociable,” Vandyk told The Guardian.
the architects made the mezzanine
Higher than: The architects manufactured the mezzanine’s blue balustrade them selves: it’s composed of Valchromat, a through-coloration substantial-density fiberboard that they slash out with a CNC router and delivered as a package of elements. The little corner is utilized as a “reading nook.”
the main bath is a hamman style wet room entirely composed of pre fabricated pi 20
Above: The principal tub is a hamman-fashion damp space fully composed of pre-fabricated pigmented concrete. Like the kitchen, it has a vaulted louvered ceiling. The overhead tubular brass element is a custom shower head.

The design was encouraged by architect Omar Ghazal’s Jordanian heritage, and by Middle Eastern references in Victorian architecture, this sort of as at Leighton Dwelling, the Holland Park home of painter Sir Frederic Leighton.

the architects had the fixtures made for the space. the window screen is tricoy 21
Above: The architects experienced the fixtures produced for the room. The window display is Tricoya, a water-resistant MDF that was CNC minimize and then painted to match the rosy salmon that appears in other places. There is a mirror tucked within the cupboard door about the sink.

“Alan’s argument was, if we limit them, we’re not going to close up with just about anything pretty attention-grabbing,” Vandyk commented to The Contemporary Dwelling. Additional Day: “There was a really near collaboration in the consultations, but we by no means challenged anything…We’re so pleased that we did not begin tutting and saying no…We have the feeling of rootedness for the reason that we’ve been below due to the fact 1980, and nonetheless some thing so imaginative has been carried out.” For far more, check out the NLA’s Don’t Move, Increase! online video on the undertaking.

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