Surface Design Awards – Complete

• HOUSING - INTERIOR 
  Buildings such as houses, flats and apartments that are used for sheltering people. These could be either part of the private or public sector and could be individual dwellings or multi-dwelling developments. Social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the market are included.

Reimagining the layout of a Victorian terrace house creates an open, light-filled home that maximises liveable space.

Designed for a young creative couple with two small children, the brief for Blurton Road was to move away from the original Victorian proportions to deliver a sense of generosity, with places to relax, play and socialise all around the house.

The creation of a double-height ‘library’ at the centre of the house was a key design move, reorientating the interior and creating visual connections across the living spaces on two floors. A new staircase made from white powder coated steel with oak treads leads up from the kitchen to a mezzanine with a glazed screen wall on to the living room. Full height oak shelving pulls both levels together into one harmonious space. The stairs are also part of the room, their shallow pitch and wide treads perfect for sitting on.

A large rear extension is splayed to catch the morning light. It holds a generous new kitchen and dining area, created with entertaining and family life in mind. The centrepiece is a large kitchen island designed by the architects. The palette includes white Corian countertops and sustainable Comporta rubber flooring.

Bifold windows and full-height glazed timber doors connect the new extension through to the garden. By slightly lowering the ground level a previously cramped storage space has been turned into a guest bedroom without the need for major structural works.

On the first floor, the existing extension has been expanded to create a new bedroom with ensuite. The family bathroom has also been remodelled, with a natural lime-based Pastellone plaster used to create subtly textured surfaces.

The richly toned fumed oak used internally and externally throughout is a low carbon FSC certified sustainable timber which is also a nod to the clients' love of mid-century design. Handmade ‘waterstruck’ bricks with mossy and beige tones have been used externally with flush lime pointing, their natural variation and colouring complementing the surrounding London stock. The new extension is highly insulated and upgrades to the original building have also increased its energy efficiency.

Completed March 2022, construction cost £360,000 ex VAT

Attention to detail and beautiful finishes are central to this project. Carefully considered materials deliver a calm interior palette of rich timber paired with warm whites, textured plaster and terracotta ceramics - a contemporary take on mid-century aesthetics.

Oak has been used throughout, including the full height shelves, stairs, kitchen units, windows and doors, creating continuity across the different spaces. Fuming darkens tone while also bringing out the wood’s natural grain. Solid timber is a durable natural material that only improves as it ages.

The kitchen’s Corian worktops are durable and bright, reflecting natural light across the space. Comporta rubber flooring is a sustainable product which gives the clean, monolithic appearance of concrete but is softer underfoot and absorbs sound for better acoustics.

Upstairs the family bathroom features Pastellone, a natural lime based plaster which uses an antique Venetian recipe and has a smooth, lightly polished finish making it water resistant.

In the ensuite, terracotta finger tiles bring a warm pinkish tone, referencing the owner’s love of South American interiors.

Sustainable material choices include the use low carbon FSC certified sustainable timber and comporta rubber flooring (awarded the Blue Angel rating for exceptionally eco-friendly products).

The design prioritised longevity of materials and finishes throughout, with solid timber and high-quality natural materials used which are designed to age and wear gracefully over time.

The overall energy efficiency of the home has also been improved with upgrades to the original building, including the double glazed windows, underfloor heating and improved insulation throughout. The form of the extension was informed by solar path to maximise daylighting.

At the rear of the house, lowering the floor to the level of the existing corbel foundations avoided the need for concrete-intensive underpinning. The direct street access to the new bedroom means that it is flexible to future adaptions as the family grows and changes - the perfect space for guests, but also a lodger, carer, or for a teenager wanting more independence.

The architects had to persuade the client that sacrificing a room to create the new double height space would be worth it in terms of the quality of the new space gained. In the context of London, where square footage is at an absolute premium, it can be difficult to help clients to see the gains of losing a room that is not working for them, but in this case it was essential to the success of the project, and is now the client’s favourite part of the house.