SHH creates a new generation ‘ House of Books ’
SHH has created a complete transformation of the ‘ House of Books ’ in Hampstead . The property ’ s name derives from its previous owner who had an enormous library of books , as well as his own personal erudition and authorship . In the words of journalist Anthony Howard the house was , ‘ dedicated to books – reaching high to the ceiling in bookshelves , piled untidily on tables , even scattered randomly about on the floor .’
On purchasing the property , the new owners commissioned SHH to gut and remodel the house entirely , but in a way that was very much in keeping with the spirit of the previous owner . The new scheme is formed therefore around a stunning library structure that runs through all five floors of the property - as the new owners also happened to be complete bibliophiles , with over 100 linear metres of books of their own .
SHH Associate Director , Stuart McLauchlan , who led the project , said that both the bookcase and the new stair which wraps around it were absolutely central to the new design for the house , forming a top-to-bottom spine , off which all other spaces were then arranged . The property was completely gutted and then re-created behind its traditional frontage to achieve this radical new interior structure , together with a new cedar and zinc side and rear extension to increase floor space . Whilst the house was not listed , it is situated in a conservation area and the retention of the existing façade was a requirement of planning permission terms .
‘ We ripped the whole house out behind the façade ’ explained Stuart McLauchlan , ‘ and built a new steel and timber-frame to sit within the old brick skin and connect it to the existing structure . The space configuration and resulting floors , walls and stair are all new , with the new stair more linear than its predecessor and set to one side in order to create more floor space . The house was extended not only to the rear but also to the side in order to house the ambitious new stair and bookcase concept .’
The five-storey house starts with a garden level and goes up to a raised ground floor entrance level , which doesn ’ t extend fully to the far edge of the rear extension , so that a double-height space is created beyond at the back of the house . A master suite is located on the first floor , with further bedrooms and bathrooms for the client ’ s family on the second and third floors .
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