Proctor & Shaw

Mid-19th century townhouses were typically arranged with grand ‘served’ rooms at ground, first and second floors sandwiched between subterranean ‘servant’ rooms below and above. This project is about opening up these lower floors to light and height transforming them for contemporary family life.

Two voids are carved out within the lower floors of the house dramatically improving the quality of height, light and volume to the lower floors. Whilst structurally challenging, the spatial benefits of the scheme were immediately clear. One void introduces an elegant stair and light well to improve the connections between principal floors. The other, at basement level, re-establishes a small outdoor garden space reconnecting the home with nature and fresh air.

The ash lined cantilevered stair defines the re-configured entrance hall, but also cleverly incorporates accessible riser and going heights, and wall-recessed handrails to assist the ambulant disabled owner. Elegant open treads cascade around a vertically arranged banister ‘screen’ hanging in space, allowing natural light to penetrate between floors.

Solid Ash parquet flooring is installed throughout, stained dark at ground floor to compliment more generous ceiling heights and create contrast, and white oiled at basement level to reflect light and promote a sense of space in the subterranean volume. The materiality and high quality craftmanship is continued with custom ash joinery lining the hallway and study.

Press/Awards:
Dezeen Awards, 2023 - Longlisted
Leibal, July 2022

Completed: 2021

Location:
London Borough of Westminster

Engineer:
Jensen Hunt Design Ltd

Photography: 
Stale Eriksen