Arch House

Situated in the Kensington Conservation Area, the house was defined by its dimly-lit narrow stairs and underused rear lightwell which backs on to the railway station below. The footprint of the house is small and narrow, measuring 4.2m by 10m including the external lightwell. Our brief was to create a practical family home for contemporary living whilst preserving the historic charms of the original house. The transformation involves opening up the insular spaces to form a series of interconnected living areas that are flooded with natural daylight from the skylit stairs and internalised lightwell that is triple-glazed for acoustic and thermal insulation. The oversized skylight above the stairs slides open to a generous roof terrace offering an inviting area for entertainment and outdoor contemplation away from the railway station. The new roof alongside all glazed elements have been specified to go beyond the minimum regulatory requirements to future-proof the house for years to come. The interiors have been meticulously detailed to complement the architectural transformation – blending modern functionality within a remodelled historic shell. Contemporary arched detailing was inspired by the original period motifs whilst the intricate metalwork detailing echoes the ornate entrance fanlight.