A residential building has been constructed in the Stamford Brook area of London, representing an extension to a historic Victorian house. Although its form clearly emphasises its contemporary origins, the building mimics the neighbouring properties typical of the landscape of the British capital. The design by Goldstein Heather has transformed a cramped, narrow 150-year-old London house into a property of nearly 500 square metres.
An extended house in London
Angelina and Rowan bought the old house, dating from the second half of the 19th century, 10 years ago. It was a narrow building, typical of the area, with a complicated interior layout that fell far short of today’s standards. The rooms were small and cramped, which is why the household members often spent entire days without seeing each other at all. The dining room was situated deep inside the house and was decidedly lacking in light, whilst the garden was neglected and barely visible from inside. The situation changed dramatically when the vacant plot next door was put up for sale. The owners of the Victorian house saw this as an opportunity to extend it and completely overhaul the outdated layout.
“Thanks to our collaboration with Goldstein Heather, we’ve managed to create a bright, cohesive home tailored to our way of life. It’s a space designed with the future in mind,” says Rowan.
A building full of natural light
The new part of the house features a fairly simple yet distinctive form. Its façade is made of light yellow brick, combined with plaster in two shades. On the top floor, the architects have designed a rhythmic break reminiscent of an accordion, intended to visually break up the mass of the building and lend it a sense of lightness. To preserve the historical continuity of the row of interconnected houses, the extension has a separate entrance with a front garden and appears as a separate property, whilst the interiors connect with the Victorian neighbour. Its dilapidated façade has undergone meticulous restoration. As part of the renovation, layers of white paint were removed, the mortar joints between the bricks were renewed, and the parapet details were restored. The old part of the house has regained its original, elegant appearance. The new structure stands out from it, yet they remain visually cohesive and form a successful pair.
The arch plays a significant role in Goldstein Heather’s design. This classic motif appears both externally and internally. The soft, rounded transitions introduce a more fluid appearance to this rather austere architecture and influence the way light is diffused.
“This house perfectly captures our studio’s approach. The result is architecture that is both contemporary and timeless,” emphasises Giles Heather.
Victorian style revisited
Angelina and Rowan’s London home features several distinct levels, which have nevertheless been skilfully interconnected. The heart of the property is a tall, two-storey space. Its purpose is to illuminate the interior and organise circulation between the different floors. A large pendant light hangs here, designed to emphasise the scale of the room and visually connect the different storeys. The ground floor features an open-plan living area comprising a kitchen, dining room and lounge. Above this, a more intimate section has been designed. One of the floors serves as an open-plan lounge with a view downwards. The next floor is intended for the children, with the option of later dividing it into separate rooms. At the very top is the master bedroom with a private balcony. What immediately catches the eye when visiting the house is the wooden staircase with its gentle, curved form. As you ascend, the landings become wider and the amount of light increases. Windows, skylights and openings frame beautiful views of the park, the trees lining the street and the garden.
The London home and its interiors
The interiors of the house have been designed using natural materials and a calm, balanced colour scheme. Wood, stone and light-coloured surfaces that reflect light well dominate here. The overall effect is subdued, yet not without striking accents. Great attention was paid to the kitchen, designed in collaboration with Sebastian Cox. Its centrepiece is a long marble island with green veining. It is complemented by ash furniture and cabinet fronts with a distinctive, slightly undulating texture, echoing details seen on the façade.
The large space on the ground floor quickly became a favourite gathering place. The house works well for everyday life and for larger gatherings of relatives or friends. The different areas of the house are interconnected, which facilitates interaction between residents and guests.
“It’s a place where our children can stay for longer, and our loved ones will always find space when visiting London,” sums up Rowan.
design: Goldstein Heather
area of the old house: 227 sq m
area of the extension: 244 sq m
photography: James Retief
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