Highgate House
This traditional Victorian London terraced house has been transformed into a wonderful modern open family home. A new 3 storey rear extension and roof terrace completely transforms previously dark areas into open, spacious, light and functional spaces. To the rear a large kitchen, dining and family room is created which opens up to allow the luscious green backdrop of parkland to fill the large picture frame opening. At first floor there are now two new bathrooms and a self -contained laundry space. The main bathroom features a walk in shower and a bath which sits under a large window. A study/studio space is created on the second floor which is internally clad in plywood and features opening glazed doors and a staircase up to a roof terrace whose height and orientation provides views across London.
Wiltern Court
Spacelab reorganised a cluttered 1950s apartment, working with the client to concentrate storage needs along one wall. An exercise in life laundry, this storage wall runs continuously through the living and dining areas, and has enabled the owner to turn chaos into order, dramatically altering the way she lives in the apartment. Sliding doors have also been used to increase the sense of space in the apartment, and walls have been moved to enlarge the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Concealed lighting enhances the newly streamlined look of the apartment.
Richards House
Spacelab designed this contemporary home for a couple approaching retirement, who wanted somewhere they could grow old in. Folding-sliding doors connect the indoor and outdoor spaces, and an open-plan layout, with a double-height kitchen and living space, maximises natural daylight inside. It remains sensitive to the low-density character of its surroundings, with seamed zinc cladding to echo the roofs and dormers of neighbouring houses. The design is like a piece of sculpture, with the zinc cladding wrapping around the roof and first floor, and white rendered walls on the ground floor extending out from the house to enclose the garden.
Westlake House
Built on open countryside near Peterborough, this house makes the most of its unique setting, while fitting the needs of its owners into a small amount of space. The south-facing façade is almost entirely glazed, and internal windows mean that all parts of the house benefit from natural light and views.
The construction was simple and cost-effective to match the owners’ needs, and the building is clad with timber to blend sensitively with its surroundings. We also extended the house later to accommodate the owners’ growing family, linking it with a glass corridor. The house won a RIBA Design Award in 2003, and was featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme.
Brick End House
Spacelab designed this family house to replace an existing dwelling on the site, which suffered from small rooms and insufficient storage. Central to the new home is a two-storey wall with built-in storage and display units, which acts like a spine for the rest of the house. Expanses of glazing along the south and west sides provide plenty of natural light inside, and the first floor, which is clad in perforated metal, features louvres to screen the sun, and also overhangs the ground floor to provide shade below.
Burton Street
The proposed scheme is for a single family dwelling for a professional couple, the layout is over 3 floors, the spaces are designed to be flexible so the living style can be adapted to reflect the changing needs of the residents. The basement level has the added benefit of a lightwell providing light and fresh air to the rooms at this level. All the rooms within the building benefit from large glazed areas to the front elevation maximizing the natural light.
On approach along the street, the building does not immediately stand out, however when reaching its immediate area the simple structured forms and subtle materials to the front elevation enlighten the imagination and provide a contemporary and current addition to the streetscape.