The Architects’ Journal Architecture News & Buildings
The villa is set in a south-west London suburban streetscape setting, where it replaces a dilapidated bungalow. Its façades are clad in white brickwork with colour-matched lime mortar, designed to contrast with the bronze framing of the window and metalwork as well as surrounding planting.
The composition of the front and rear elevations respond respectively to the street and the Royal Park behind. The former is more reserved with a partially blank, brick-patterned gable, while the latter is punctured by large windows and balconies.
The patterned brickwork, gable window bays and entrance portico take cues from the historic features found in the surrounding neighbourhood, reinterpreted in a modern manner.
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The interior features timber panelling and bespoke metal stair detailing, while a double-height living space, which forms the main organising spatial element in the interior, is lined in exposed brickwork. An open stair serving three levels allows for views over the double-height void and out towards the park.
Architect’s view
The architecture is heavy, yet quiet with a focus on emphasising the fabulous location and aspect with panoramic views of the park. Overall, the home takes on the architectural responsibility of merging with the scale, proportions and materiality of its context – designated as an area of special character – ensuring compatibility and longevity with the special setting. Internally, we selected a limited palette of beautiful materials which have been tightly integrated, creating a cohesive and mature feel both internally and externally.
Our concept diagrams referenced historic homes within the same street, which had strong and obvious architectural features such as patterned brickwork, entrance porticos and bay windows. The new home integrates and abstracts these elements in a distinctly contemporary manner.
Harry Insall-Reid, project architect, Fletcher Crane Architects
Client’s view
Based around a modern take on a Victorian villa, the end result is a stylish house which is homely and comfortable to live in. It looks quite simple from the outside but there is a wealth of rich detailing, views, natural light, landscaping and features that we enjoy from inside the building.
Source:Fletcher Crane Architects
Project data
Start on site June 2020
Completion date July 2022
Gross internal floor area 338m2
Form of contract Traditional, JCT Intermediate
Construction cost Undisclosed
Architect Fletcher Crane Architects
Client Private
Structural engineer Structural Design Studio
Principal designer Goddards
Approved building inspector Salus
Main contractor Main Contracts
CAD software used Archicad
Environmental performance data
Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >2% Not supplied
Percentage of floor area with daylight factor >5% Not supplied
On-site energy generation 0 %
Annual mains water consumption 104.8 m3/occupant
Airtightness at 50Pa 4.42 m3/h.m2
Heating and hot water load 50.6 kWh/m2/yr
Overall area-weighted U-value Not supplied
Design life 50 Years
Embodied / whole-life carbon Not supplied
Annual CO2 emissions Not supplied
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