22/09/2026 2:15 AM

Illegal Grounds

Real Estate Insights

A Colorful, Architecturally Adventurous London Victorian Terrace House Remodel

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It was possibly time to soar ship or to reinvent their north London townhouse. Just after virtually 40 many years of residing less than the exact leaky roof, Russell Vandyk and Alan Martin Day, both of those retired, daringly chose the latter. The pair employed Studio Ben Allen to insert a two-story extension on to the back again of their terraced Victorian. The inquire came with a reward each and every structure team longs for: they ended up inspired, suggests Allen, to “use the venture as a testbed for concepts.”

In response, the architects, led by Allen and Omar Ghazal, took the possibility to “push the boundaries of off-website fabrication, a thing we felt was missing in modest-scale residential assignments.” Precisely, they utilized prefabricated pigmented concrete on equally the exterior and interior, as structural aspects that are also ornamental many thanks to Studio Allen’s bold use of coloration and curves. The addition now houses a double-height new skylit kitchen area with a mezzanine that connects to the existing primary stair and qualified prospects to a extremely unforgettable new bath. And there is a lot more: Vandyk and Working day in essence attained an entirely new household that still retains highlights of the original—and has earned a good deal of appreciation from the Uk structure local community. Dubbed The Residence Recast, the remodel was named “best new house enhancement project” of 2021 in the NLA’s annual “Don’t Transfer, Make improvements to!” contest. Be part of us for a tour.

Images by French + Tye, courtesy of Studio Ben Allen.

the \189\2 house has a traditional façade and an eye opening back exterior 9
Higher than: The 1892 house has a common façade and an eye-opening again exterior of cast concrete: scalloped columns and beams the coloration of verdigris body salmon wall panels that entrance the new upstairs rest room. “We selected these colors for the reason that they are comparable to the copper and terracotta utilized on some of the nearby Victorian buildings of notice,” says Allen.

the concrete colors were created using earth pigments. adds allen:
Above: The concrete shades have been produced utilizing earth pigments. Adds Allen: “We had been not only encouraged by the coloration but the honesty of Victorian architecture: the brickwork is ornamental but it’s also load-bearing.” The new exterior and interior things were being produced off web-site and proficiently set up in a subject of days. The extension is 142 sq. meters (somewhere around 1,500 square ft).
the architects introduced a dramatic double height kitchen with a vaulted louve 11
Previously mentioned: The architects introduced a extraordinary double-height kitchen with a vaulted louvered ceiling and a mezzanine that “allow gentle to penetrate deep into the household,” claims Allen. The supports, island, and counter are all forged concrete the exterior and structural aspects are the perform of Cornish Concrete Products and the inside types are by Concreations. The kitchen cupboards are made of oak triply composed of three layers of solid wooden.

“There made use of to be a modest galley kitchen area with only one particular window and a eating desk squidged up versus it, and the garden was just a scrappy bit of land,” Vandyk advised The Modern-day Property. “It’s not as if we were indifferent or sloppy,” included Working day. “The household just wasn’t seriously at the centre of our universe. When we were younger, we had distinct priorities. A great deal of our everyday living was outdoors. Now, it is about residence comforts.”

the sink has an integrated drainboard of pigmented concrete and a faucet from d 12
Higher than: The sink has an built-in drainboard of pigmented concrete and a faucet from Dornbracht’s Tara assortment. Be aware the useful designed-in towel bar.

Of late, there is been a ton of concern in the structure entire world about the substantial-carbon price tag of creating concrete. Eco-friendlier versions—aka “green concrete”—are now surfacing, but Allen suggests that this challenge unfortunately predated the recent dialogue.

an arched opening and concrete steps link the kitchen to the dining room. 13
Earlier mentioned: An arched opening and concrete steps hyperlink the kitchen to the dining space.
one of the redesign themes was
Earlier mentioned: 1 of the redesign themes was “trying to make connection details throughout the home,” Allen informed the NLA (New London Architecture) forum. The textured partitions are lime plaster.
vandyk and day owned a prop making business before embarking on their remodel.  15
Previously mentioned: Vandyk and Day owned a prop earning organization right before embarking on their remodel. “As you get older you recognize owning a much more aesthetic dimension to your lifetime,” Day told The Guardian in a spotlight on the dwelling. “Luxury isn’t about cruises or high-priced sofas it’s about attractiveness.”
the room retains its original mantel and wide plank flooring. the d ended dinin 16
Over: The room retains its unique mantel and wide-plank flooring. The D-ended eating table is a Studio Ben Allen style and design. the room retains its original mantel and wide plank flooring. the d ended dinin 17Previously mentioned: Yet another archway connects the eating home to the entrance hall. The doorway in the qualifications qualified prospects to the residing room. Don’t Move, Strengthen! judge Tom Foxall commented on the venture: “It isn’t just an extension it is a route via the building and spatially very intriguing. It operates very perfectly architecturally,”
next to the living room fireplace, a hatch opens to the kitchen enabling the pe 18
Earlier mentioned: Future to the dwelling area hearth, a hatch opens to the kitchen enabling the human being at the sink to just take portion in the conversation and go food items back again and forth. “These connections have built the dwelling sense so considerably additional sociable,” Vandyk explained to The Guardian.
the architects made the mezzanine
Higher than: The architects manufactured the mezzanine’s blue balustrade by themselves: it’s composed of Valchromat, a by way of-color significant-density fiberboard that they slice out with a CNC router and sent as a kit of components. The modest corner is employed as a “reading nook.”
the main bath is a hamman style wet room entirely composed of pre fabricated pi 20
Earlier mentioned: The main bath is a hamman-model soaked room solely composed of pre-fabricated pigmented concrete. Like the kitchen, it has a vaulted louvered ceiling. The overhead tubular brass aspect is a customized shower head.

The style was impressed by architect Omar Ghazal’s Jordanian heritage, and by Center Japanese references in Victorian architecture, such as at Leighton Household, the Holland Park home of painter Sir Frederic Leighton.

the architects had the fixtures made for the space. the window screen is tricoy 21
Higher than: The architects experienced the fixtures produced for the space. The window display screen is Tricoya, a water-resistant MDF that was CNC lower and then painted to match the rosy salmon that seems in other places. There’s a mirror tucked within the cabinet doorway around the sink.

“Alan’s argument was, if we prohibit them, we’re not likely to conclusion up with nearly anything extremely exciting,” Vandyk commented to The Fashionable Residence. Included Day: “There was a very close collaboration in the consultations, but we never ever challenged anything…We’re so happy that we did not begin tutting and expressing no…We have the feeling of rootedness mainly because we’ve been listed here considering that 1980, and nevertheless a thing so imaginative has been performed.” For additional, look at the NLA’s Don’t Move, Make improvements to! video clip on the task.

A few a lot more motivated townhouse makeovers:

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