An extensive redevelopment of an Edwardian semi-detached house in north London, dramatically re-ordering rooms and extending the house to the rear to meet the evolving needs of a couple and their teenage children.
Studio Name: Robert Hirschfield Architects
Design Team: Robert Hirschfield
Area: London
Year: 2016
Location: UK
Consultants:
Structural Engineer: Conisbee
Quantity Surveyor: Trogal Griffin Associates
Photography Credits:
Matt Clayton Photography
Other Credits:
Contractor: Vital Building Services
Staircase Designer-Maker: Fowler & Co
Joinery: Dot Bespoke
Kitchen Designer: Bulthaup
Glazing: Maxlight
This large period house required significant untangling from its congested internal layout in order to rationalise and re-configure its interior spaces. It also had a lack of connectedness to its generous outdoor spaces and an under-exploited loft area.
The original living and service areas of the house were dark, cramped and restrictive to family shared spaces. Our solution was to reconfigure the layout of each floor and expand the house to create a spacious living area to the rear of the ground floor with a large glazed structure that frames the newly landscaped garden and terrace.
The re-configured floors have given the family generous sized rooms with an interesting play of level changes and volumes that can now be fully shared and enjoyed. These are connected by a new helical staircase with a ribbon-like handrail that curves as it ascends in parallel with the central double-height void.
The new loft bedroom is the proud possessor of its own private recessed terrace that has cleverly and discretely been carved into the pitch of the roof.
The bathrooms, bedrooms and living spaces have bespoke built-in joinery, storage spaces and shelving all of which have been fully integrated into the overall concept and design.
Throughout the house, the warmth and texture of the wood grain used for the staircase has been emphasised in floor finishes and worktops elsewhere.
Practice Profile
Robert Hirschfield Architects is a London based architecture practice. We specialise in residential design including renovations, new-build houses and developer-led accommodation. Over the years the practice has also worked on a diverse range of schemes including commercial, mixed-use design and heritage projects.
We aim to translate each client’s individual aspiration into a built reality. We push boundaries in all things creative, whilst ensuring that we maintain a high level of communication with our clients throughout as we recognise that this is key to the success of any project.
