Project Description
Knox Bhavan Architects were engaged to remodel this Victorian house, poorly converted into three flats in the 1960’s, and reconvert it into a beautiful family home. The house had to be completely gutted before the refurbishment could commence.
Simple, carefully detailed joinery using responsibly sourced timber articulates the remodelled house, introducing clean modern lines whilst enhancing its Victorian elegance.
The Exterior
The house is approached across a new Yorkstone terrace. To one side a Siberian Larch clad extension introduces an exterior language, picked up in the bin-store and garden trellis.
The rear elevation is given a new symmetry with new European Oak sash windows, and at ground floor level European Oak french doors and bay windows.
The Interior
Entering the house the eye is drawn to the new stair running through the full height of the house. Cast aluminium chassis support shaped European Oak treads with open risers allowing light to flood through the centre of the house, and creating a visual connection through the family living space to the garden beyond. An oiled American Black Walnut handrail with hand carved turns and end volute contrasts with the lighter oak and the bead blast aluminium balusters. A natural palette of European Oak and limestone floors unites the house from top to bottom and provides a complementary background to the bespoke joinery. To the left of the entrance hall is the library. This room is lined on 3 sides with European Oak veneered shelving, incorporating the Lappia Green marble-backed fireplace into which a clean burning woodstove has been fitted. A bureau is built in to the right hand side of the fireplace.
On the right of the entrance is the music room. Fitted yellow gloss MDF cupboards, which frame a black piano, were designed to accommodate a variety of musical instruments, accessories and sheet music.
Down the first flight of stairs the open plan kitchen and dayroom introduce a modern feel to this Victorian house. Reflecting the design of the library the dayroom shelving and bureau on the end wall meets a European Oak panelled wall which incorporates bay window seats with sliding folding shutters. The kitchen at the opposite end features bespoke kitchen units with European Oak veneered drawers and spray painted MDF door and drawer fronts, finished with Burlington Slate worktops.
In the basement European Oak veneered shelving contrasts with the dark blue walls and seating to create a club-like games room for the client’s children. In contrast a much lighter feel is achieved in the utility room where Ash is the principle material.
Upstairs the master suite is divided into bedroom, dressing room and bathroom by Cedar lined, Cherry slip-matched veneered cupboards providing clothes storage. The doors to the rooms fit neatly back against the cupboards which stop short of the ceiling, so that the rooms read as a unity.
In the attic a sauna is given a contemporary look with T&G Hemlock cladding which contrasts with pale Aspen seating.
Both timbers were chosen for their particular suitability to this application.
