Interlocking House, London Fields

The studio’s approach was to build less but better, making the existing spaces work harder, thus limiting the need for a large extension and reducing the household's annual carbon emissions by 16%. Insulating & making small architectural changes to the existing improved the performance & flow of the house. The original hallway opening was reinstated to provide a sightline from the front door into the rear garden, and wider internal openings were installed. The ground floor spaces were thermally upgraded using jute insulation (recycled coffee bean sacks). Bespoke storage was designed to house the kids' toys with a niche for the family’s piano. A poor-quality extension was replaced by a 14 sqm staggered pair of interlocking forms. Constructed of aerated blockwork with high recycled content, Woodfibre insulation and façades rendered with a matte black hand-applied lime cork render. The geometry of the form nods to that of the surrounding roof pitches. Inside the pitched volumes, the walls are lined with painted timber panels with recessed picture rails, a robust alternative to plasterboard. Ash-faced plywood lines the faceted ceiling with a strikingly large triangular rooflight overhead. The minimal kitchen has a terrazzo island facing the dining space with views into the garden. The rear garden landscaping, also designed by Whittaker Parsons, is accessed via a large, glazed pivot door. On colder days, there’s a smaller glazed door adjacent to a window seat overlooking the garden with storage below for the family's gardening gear and shoes. A garden shed has been cleverly designed within the depth of the existing party wall. The 1st-floor outrigger was upgraded, creating a characterful, colourful & light-filled family bathroom.