Paul McAneary Architects designed this Edwardian terrace house, Faceted House 1, in Hammersmith, London. The client wished to remodel and expand the dilapidated three-bedroom home and transform it into a contemporary and functional house with a focus on blurring the lines between indoors and out. The original home had a 1980s extension in the rear, which was completely demolished and rebuilt by the architects in a more modern, conservatory style.
From the architects:
The new extension is added by a clean and clearly defined line to the rear that respects its heritage and gives this house a unique, uniform aesthetic. The sculptural façade is visually striking and elegant at the same time. Paul McAneary Architects reconfigured and expanded the existing space by designing a huge open-plan: the concept driving the whole design is a 30° twist that allows physical and perceptive overlapping between the indoor and the outdoor spaces, between the garden and kitchen thresholds – so whilst at the sink you feel the garden is actually behind you. This conceptual idea is manifest in the details of the faceted zinc facade and the floating external deck, being cut back to a fine angled edge. The garden becomes a vital ingredient of the living space.
The client requested a clutter-free and practical house. PMA responded with their designed concept storage wall; a simple multi-purpose solution made of economical IKEA carcasses for the interior, and high quality lacquered handleless doors for the outer surface. They designed a concealed cupboard at the end of the kitchen bench top which carefully hides the toaster, kettle and all the other kitchen clutter in the same way that the WC and utility cupboard design solutions hide away these occasional functions. Technology is also hidden as much as possible, to fully integrate all requirements so as the space could remain as calm, uncluttered and contemplative as possible.
Light floods into the house via the finest possible sections, making up the sliding doors, combined with the large fixed frameless panel of the facade that folds back into the depth of the building with a frameless folded roof panel. A “ballet of light” is the result, as the light casts a sharp beam into the depth of the house which dances through the space during the hours of daylight extenuated by the light coloured floor and ceiling which bounce the light to the other end of the house.
Project Name: Faceted House 1
Completion Date: 2009
Area: 185 sqm
Location: Hammersmith, London
Client: Kent Hoskins
Design Team: Paul McAneary Architects/Paul McAneary, Matthias Laumayer
Contractor: Sheppard Construction
Supplier: Fine Line Aluminium, Rheinzink, Vola
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