Wade House is a small house in London designed by the Wadhal studio. The building was constructed on the site of two derelict garages and covers 70 square metres, which is the minimum area permitted by the London Plan for this type of development. The design responds to the strict planning requirements governing development in the suburbs of the UK capital.
A house in London under the scrutiny of officials
Local authorities required the new building to replicate the form and materials of the neighbouring 1930s terraced houses. However, the architect used these constraints as a starting point for his own interpretation. The project also has a personal dimension. The plot was inherited by the client, whose late father, Wade, gave the development its name. Despite a limited budget, the house features bespoke elements and interesting solutions. Fahad Malik himself – founder of the Wadhal studio – grew up amidst similar housing and is well acquainted with its proportions and typical shortcomings.
A typical form, completely new details
The form of the new house matches the dimensions of the neighbouring buildings, but expresses its individuality through the materials used. The façade is finished in red brick with a decorative arrangement of protruding elements and white render on the upper floor. The same motif is repeated on the roof, which is covered with tiles in two shades. It is also impossible not to notice the wooden front gable above the bay window and, of course, the front door with a stained-glass panel by the artist Jack Brindley. The red semi-circular panes cast colourful reflections into the interior, changing with the time of day.
How to fit more into 70 square metres
The small floor area has been used very effectively. Corridors have been dispensed with, and the stairs have been integrated into the kitchen units. The mobile island can serve as a bar or be moved aside when more space is needed. Upstairs, the wooden roof structure has been exposed, allowing for a bedroom ceiling height of almost four metres. The house also features clever storage solutions and a reading nook beneath a skylight. The absence of an attic has allowed the entire volume of the building to be utilised for the residents’ needs.
Recurring motifs and natural materials
Douglas fir plays a key role in the house, featuring in the roof structure, the stairs and the interior fittings. The ground floor and terraces, meanwhile, are finished with red quarry-style tiles, which can also be found in the bathroom. Exposed wooden beams and high vaulted ceilings give this room an atmosphere inspired by Scandinavian relaxation areas.
A house in London: ingenuity rather than technology
The building’s comfort is primarily ensured by passive solutions. The walls are filled with 150 mm of insulation, with an additional 50 mm on the exterior of the structure. Openable skylights and glazing aid natural ventilation, whilst an air-to-water heat pump is connected to the underfloor heating. Architect Fahad Malik points out that he achieved reduced energy consumption primarily through the carefully designed form and partitions of the building, rather than through elaborate systems and technology.
design: Wadhal
photography: Lorenzo Zandri
Read also:Detached house|whiteMAD on Instagram|United Kingdom|London|Brick
