We completely restored a grade 2* Georgian terraced house in London’s most complete early eighteenth century street. Its panelled interiors are home to a collection of modern art. At the rear we have created a courtyard garden in the form of a flying saucer lightly resting on the original brick vaults.

RIBA Award 2008

“This beautiful, seamless restoration and conversion of a Grade II listed Georgian terrace house combines minute attention to detail with imagination and charm. The rigour required by English Heritage and Camden Council’s conservation officers may have been challenging, but it has not hindered the architects from achieving a fresh take on restoration.”
RIBA


A white stone disc floats over the existing vaults to form the new terrace with a curved glass balustrade skimming its edge and circular flush rooflights providing natural light to below. Glass bridges (dis)connect back to the main house through the modified existing sash windows. Presiding over all is the cast iron Antony Gormley life figure, positioned to be viewed through the house on opening the main front door.

Below, a full-height facetted glazed screen follows the curve of the terrace over to extend the existing vaults for the media room and connects to the main house under the glass bridges. The screen set back from the existing courtyard walls creates multiple reflections onto a dense planting of ferns and bamboos. Over, the white underside of the terrace curves up beyond the screen and is punctured by the shafts of the circular rooflights forming unexpected geometries as they intersect the existing arched vaults.