Clapham Loft

The client presented a very simple brief to respect the Victorian spirit of their family house but to create a contemporary loft filled with sunlight to house their new large study and retreat.

The architect responded to this brief by designing a suspended perforated gallery which appears to be floating above the top level with a fluid spiral stairs as a connection.

It chose a rich spiral form derived from the golden section to create a sweeping spiral stair which gives balance to both Victorian style and the desired contemporary/industrial feel of the new space.

The stair and the gallery form a family of exposed black coated steel, steel cables, perforated steel deck and timber superimposed to the original brickwork wall.

The intervention responds to the volume’s symmetry with the spiral stair positioned along the centre line of the gallery and framed evenly between the dwellings chimney breasts. Through detailed exposed metal work and subtle baroque-like forms, this contemporary intervention also gives respect to the old Victorian spirit.

The gallery utilises its west facing clear views to Clapham Common to give a wonderful place for spending afternoon and enjoying the settling sun.