Wallace House
Location:
Camden, London
Client:
Private
Structural Engineer:
Elliott Wood Structural Engineers
Quantity Surveyors:
Baillie Knowles Partnership
Building Contractor:
TBC
Original House and Architects
The site occupies an area just under 2000 sq metres and is within the London Borough of Camden, Highgate Conservation Area.
Paxton Locher Architects originally designed the modern two-storey family house for a private client, with planning approval received in 1998 for the demolition of the existing buildings and the creation of a new vehicular access on the North East corner of the site. Construction work was completed in early 2000 and the house is now highlighted within the Highgate Conservation Area Statement as a building that makes a positive contribution to the area.
The design rational for the house was generated from a clear three dimensional diagram of the internal layout split into three definable forms set within a sensitively designed landscape which enhances the integration of the house into the sloped site. From the entrance gate, the gravel path opens out to a generous forecourt with the main entrance discreetly placed between the timber clad single storey garage to the north and a stone paneled main bedroom block on the south side.
Beyond the front door the upper level entrance hallway overlooks a spectacular double height space with a glazed roof that can slide open to let in the sky. A glass staircase takes you down to a linear pool house, extending out into the lower garden and a generous living space set below the main bedroom block. Large areas of sliding glass panels have been confined to the south/west elevations of the Lower Ground Floor to open up the living and pool areas to the lower private lawn and Hampstead Heath beyond.
The north and east facing elevations have minimal openings to maintain privacy from overlooking residential properties uphill to the east.
Design Brief
Our scheme has been a while in fruition. We originally received planning approval in 2009 to rework and extend the existing garage block with the addition of a new floor, additional living space to the north of the pool house and a basement extension under the garage space to accommodate the M+E for the house.
We have now been reappointed to take the project forward with upgrades to the existing building to include converting the existing lower level flat roof areas to green sedum roofs within the new proposals and for the revised garage block to be re-clad in matching stone to the retained southern section of the house.
The original large format sliding glazing has also not aged well and the proposals include replacement units within a more thermally efficient system that retains the proportions of the original glazing and frames.
The site occupies an area just under 2000 sq metres and is within the London Borough of Camden, Highgate Conservation Area.
Paxton Locher Architects originally designed the modern two-storey family house for a private client, with planning approval received in 1998 for the demolition of the existing buildings and the creation of a new vehicular access on the North East corner of the site. Construction work was completed in early 2000 and the house is now highlighted within the Highgate Conservation Area Statement as a building that makes a positive contribution to the area.
The design rational for the house was generated from a clear three dimensional diagram of the internal layout split into three definable forms set within a sensitively designed landscape which enhances the integration of the house into the sloped site. From the entrance gate, the gravel path opens out to a generous forecourt with the main entrance discreetly placed between the timber clad single storey garage to the north and a stone paneled main bedroom block on the south side.
Beyond the front door the upper level entrance hallway overlooks a spectacular double height space with a glazed roof that can slide open to let in the sky. A glass staircase takes you down to a linear pool house, extending out into the lower garden and a generous living space set below the main bedroom block. Large areas of sliding glass panels have been confined to the south/west elevations of the Lower Ground Floor to open up the living and pool areas to the lower private lawn and Hampstead Heath beyond.
The north and east facing elevations have minimal openings to maintain privacy from overlooking residential properties uphill to the east.
Design Brief
Our scheme has been a while in fruition. We originally received planning approval in 2009 to rework and extend the existing garage block with the addition of a new floor, additional living space to the north of the pool house and a basement extension under the garage space to accommodate the M+E for the house.
We have now been reappointed to take the project forward with upgrades to the existing building to include converting the existing lower level flat roof areas to green sedum roofs within the new proposals and for the revised garage block to be re-clad in matching stone to the retained southern section of the house.
The original large format sliding glazing has also not aged well and the proposals include replacement units within a more thermally efficient system that retains the proportions of the original glazing and frames.
