wide ) framing elements in black aluminium . A glass gasket runs over the top to allow the new to complement the old , with the glass integrated into the structure , but acting as a separation .
‘ The planning permission stage of the project was quite challenging ’ Stuart McLauchlan commented . ‘ Whilst Camden Borough Council liked the project , neighbours were initially concerned about light pollution from the extensive use of glass in the new scheme . Our solution was to coat the glass with tinted film , which allowed the light in but minimised its outward effects .’
The new aluminium , double-sided bookcase is inset into the house ’ s new timber- and steel-frame and is held in place by the house ’ s exposed structure , although in itself it is not a structural element – bar the high-tension cables that go through the bookcases , which form part of the safety railing for the staircase balustrades .
The striking bright orange stair , which wraps round the bookcase on all five levels , is made of individual steel trays dipped in orange liquid rubber and bolted over individual cantilevered steel hoops . A curved steel hoop was bolted into each upsidedown U-shaped tray in raw , blackened steel , with the top surface then dipped in vibrant , orange liquid rubber . The trays are openended so that the end of the hoop is visible from the far side .
The stair floats 50mm away from the bookcase with open risers . On the very first level ( garden level up to ground floor ), the stair has the same colour and finish but doesn ’ t have an open structure , but rather a solid plywood structure instead , so that services ( AV hub , switch gears , lighting controls ) and a coat store can be housed beneath it and out of sight .
The stair runs up alongside the bookcase on each floor , so that every book is accessible to the new owners and their family . The bookcase is made up of machined anodised aluminium sheets , which were precision-engineered and machine-screwed together so that there are no welds , with counter-sunk stainless steel screws so that every junction is perfect .
‘ The bookcase , staircase and balustrades were manufactured to meet our designs by Square Circle Design ’ Stuart McLauchlan commented ‘ who did a brilliant job in answering such a complex and exacting specification .’
The bookcase also features glazed , walkon slots set into the timber floor directly in front of the bookcase at every level , allowing full top-to-bottom views , whichever level you are on . The bookcase finishes 1.1m above floor level on the top storey with a skylight directly above , which opens according to an automated temperature sensor and closes when it rains .
The brief for the interior , beyond the bookcase and stair structure , was to create a sense of surprise from the moment the front door opens , giving visitors immediate views on entry right through the house and through the rear extension to the garden beyond , rather than into the classic entrance hall and stair of a house of this period . ‘ To achieve this , we had to create a very technically-complex arrangement of the systems for the smoke and fire curtain systems ’ explained Stuart McLauchlan .
A quiet and relaxing ante-lobby and working space is located on the entrance floor , together with a separate office space for one of the owners , who works from home . This area has doors that can be folded away , so that the entrance level area can be completely open plan when not in use , bar the toilet area . Sofas at the far end of this space give users views right through the two-storey space beyond and the glass sliding doors of the rear of the extension , with the ceiling of the extension created one metre higher than the entrance floor level in order to create this sightline .
The two-storey extension to the side and rear is made up of two main components : dark zinc and solid cedar , with the cedar wrapping around the corner edge .
A series of angled louvres maintains views out but prevents immediate neighbours from seeing in . The extension features a sliding , glazed curtain wall system with slim ( 22mm
The garden level formed by the new extension is the heart of the new home , with the interior made-up of a large , open-plan kitchen ( from Bulthaup ); a high-bar dining area ; a more formal dining area and a seating nook , surrounded by a timber frame . The floor is in polished concrete , which was hand-polished for a really high-quality finish , whilst the dining table was bespokedesigned by SHH ’ s Stuart McLauchlan . At the back of the space is a TV snug area and toilet .
The first floor features the clients ’ master suite and dressing rooms , with full-height walnut walls in the dressing room . The whole suite features fold-back double doors so that it can be completely open during the day and sealed off only at night . The bathroom is all in white with a single black mosaic wall .
Family bedrooms and a shared shower room are on the first floor , with a family bedroom plus shower and toilet , and guest bedroom with a shower and toilet area set into a loft space with a steep , pitched roof on the second floor .
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