New House in Islington

The site had previously been used for car parking and was constrained by the flank walls of the existing terraces and neighbouring houses facing into the site.

The design solution was to build a single-storey building between the flank walls of the terraces with a south and east facing garden. The perimeter walls to the garden have been cranked and expressed as independent planes separated by timber screen walls to allow the windows to bedrooms to face south into the gardens and to minimise overlooking.

The kitchen/dining/living area faces west towards the street and east towards the garden. Bedrooms and bathrooms are linked by an internal corridor naturally lit with a series of roof lights. The floors are tiled throughout. Heating is under floor and a wood burning stove acts as a focal point for the living area.

The house has been deliberately and robustly crafted; the walls are handmade brick by Petersen, doors and windows are bespoke cedar with cedar cladding internally and externally. Internal joinery storage and a storage basement helps to maximise the usable space.

Exposed timber joists over main areas are painted grey and the ceilings to circulation and service areas are smooth and white. Main light fittings are vintage Danish. The roof is a bio-diverse green roof planted with wild flowers.

A storage basement is accessed via a ladder stair off the living room.

The house is linked through the garden on the north side to a house the architect built in 2000. The assembly of the site also provided it with the opportunity for the conversion of the dilapidated council house which forms the end terrace on the south side and subsequently the conversion of the rest of the terrace, with some common external details.