A Painter and a Sculptor Craft a Gallery-Like Home in London

The process of creating a home can sometimes compare to creating a very personal work of art—and this was certainly the case when a sculptor and a painter bought a dilapidated, four-story Victorian terrace house in Hampstead, London. The home had previously been divided into two flats and hadn’t been restored for many years, leaving it in poor condition. The older couple had ambitious plans, and they approached Oliver Leech Architects to create a naturally lit, gallery-like space to exhibit the artwork they had collected over the years.

"Despite the poor condition of the home, there was a kind of derelict beauty in the faded colors, wallpapers, and textures of the original house," recalls Oliver Leech, founding director at Oliver Leech Architects. "Our clients set up a small art exhibition in the house before work began in celebration of the history of the house."

The project included a complete remodel of the home, to better connect the interior spaces through a series of split levels. The firm extended the ground, basement, and loft levels to accommodate a new open-plan kitchen and dining area, as well as two new bedroom suites. The design team also excavated the front garden to create a light well that floods the interior with natural light.