Interiors & Interior Design
There is a circular rooflight which sits
aloft the sculptural spiral stair and
brings with it a tower of natural light
that penetrates down into the centre
of the basement plan. The floor plates
on the upper floors were extended
and completely reconfigured to house
the new staircase and were designed
to connect views between floors via
the openness and geometric design
of the fire-resistant glazed staircase
enclosure. The reconstruction of the
staircase and its extension down into
the new basement level allows for
the multiple floors of the house to tie
together architecturally such that the
basement rooms feel as though they
are an extension of the above ground
living space rather than separate and
subordinate to it.
The basement has a generous floor to
ceiling height and further enhanced
by harnessing natural light into the
basement via walk-on roof lights at
garden level and external light wells.
The main family space with generous
proportions, is situated at garden level
and houses a large open plan kitchen,
dining and family room with access
onto a garden in what was once a
series of low ancillary spaces under the
main living floor. The kitchen forms
the functional heart of the home with
access to a front entrance, a boot-room
to the side entrance and out onto the
rear terrace through a large, Crittal-
style subdivided doors, running full
width of the rear facade. This space was
further enhanced by the incorporation
of a double height area above the
dining table, bathed in light from a
new roof light located two floors above.
What little floor space was ‘lost’ from
the floor above has been more than
compensated for in the sense of drama,
air and light created in the centre
of the home. The staircase and its
glazed enclosure is most dramatically
expressed in this location as we can
read the ‘floating’ stone edges of the
staircase and its landings behind the
screen whilst beyond we see the lines of
the polished plaster balustrade twisting
and turning up multiple flights.
The formal reception room sits on
raised ground floor and adjoins the
double height space from the floor
above. A decision was made early
onrelocating the formal reception
room to the rear of the plan in order to
benefit from the southerly aspect and
also to occupy a lateral space across
the rear facade, allowing for a dining
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room and study to be located on the
front façade. Consent was also achieved
to demolish and replace an existing
side extension with a two-storey
conservatory composed of masonry
piers, generous windows and a glazed
roof. The effect is a spacious formal
reception area flooded with natural
light.
The first floor was dedicated to a
generous master suite which was
also rearranged such that the master
bedroom enjoyed a twin aspect, east
and south. A fireplace was installed
concealing a TV above in order to
minimise visual clutter in the room.