Clay House

The property had a lot of constraints - namely boundary issues with neighbours and flat above, overlooking and overshadowing concerns and being in a Conservation Area. The priority was for maximising space and natural light while using the garden as an extension of the flat by bridging the connection between the inside and out. It became apparent that with a simple side extension, we could open up the plan, retain the existing rear extension but improve it thermally and visually. Studio 163 flipped the original layout of the flat and added a bedroom. This created a strong connection with the garden, increased by the use of a large pivot door. The microcement wetroom and WC have been positioned as two "pods" at the centre on either side of the main circulation, but the use of the courtyard enables natural light to reach further into the plan and ensure a look out onto the outdoors from all the rooms. A lot of work has been done to increase the breathability of the skin of the building. This was mainly done by using a sustainable and naturally porous material which helps regulate humidity. The use of clay plaster externally adds warmth to the home while complementing the existing brickwork, using a natural palette which picks up the tones of London stock bricks of the surrounding terrace, blending seamlessly the existing and the new together. We deliberately chose different colour for the three piers and the band above the opus.