Chiswick House
London, 2017 - 2019
The brief was to open-up and unify the Victorian semi-detached villa to better function as a family home with improved connection to the garden. Particular emphasis was placed on reimagining the existing lower-ground floor, transforming it from a dark warren into a light filled open plan kitchen and living room.
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A two-storey brick side extension provides a generous staircase from ground to lower-ground, reorienting your arrival into the kitchen. Punctuated with large sculptural windows to the garden and smaller internal windows to the main stair, it acts as an active point of connection between the floors, with constantly changing light, activity and movement. Access to the garden is through a rear infill extension and excavated terrace. Full width sliding glazed doors are set behind brick columns, topped with a precast concrete lintel. This configuration provides depth and solidity as a podium to the existing elevation, whilst allowing for a light and seamless opening to the garden. On the upper floors the historic features and proportions of the main house are preserved with new openings between front and back rooms providing dual aspects and improved connections. The attic space has been opened to the children’s bedrooms below to provide a playful mezzanine floor. A contemporary material palette of buff brick, sandstone, precast concrete and Douglas fir runs throughout, unifying the large house.
Photography: Agnese Sanvito
