Project

This large early Victorian house in Barnes had been briefly owned by a builder developer whose improvements had consisted of removing most of the interior walls, doors and plaster, leaving the staircase damaged beyond repair and hanging in space. There was rot in the roof and bare earth where the basement floor had been

To begin with the shell of the building was restored using fragments of the original mouldings and plasterwork, but the plan was transformed by moving the staircase to the rear of the house in a new glass extension. With the addition of a new three storey side extension each floor became realigned with a new lateral axis.

The restricted palette of materials (oak, stone and plaster) unite the old and new elements and create a calm setting for occasional splashes of colour and texture from the garden and furniture.

The use of lighting, particularly sunlight, emphasises the architectural shapes and volumes. The layout allows views through the interior spaces; the aim was to create a contemplative spacious interior, but also to make sure each room earns its keep as part of a vibrant family house.

The new staircase still hangs in space, but this time it is a cantilevered helical stair, made entirely from wood in a joinery tour-de-force.