In London, a Victorian Gets a Bubblegum Pink Makeover

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Project Details: 

Location: London, United Kingdom 

Architect: Office S&M Architects / @officesandm

Footprint: 1,600 square feet 

Builder: YG Builders

Structural Engineer: Foster Structure

Photographer: French + Tye / @frenchandtye

From the Architect: "Office S&M Architects have transformed a Victorian house in north London into a bright and generous family home. Glazed pink pillow-shaped tiles drape the exterior, drawing upon the clients’ love of municipal architecture.

"Office S&M Architects have remodeled and extended a Victorian terrace house in north London to create a spacious living space for a young family of four. Beacon House draws upon the clients’ love of municipal buildings and public infrastructure, to create a home which is both robust and delicate at the same time.

"A palette of materials and pastel colors was chosen for the project that take inspiration from public buildings such as swimming pools, leisure centers, and railway stations. In these buildings, glazed tiles are commonly used as a protective layer to prolong the lifespan of a building, while also conveying a feeling of richness on a budget. This material approach has been used in the designs to create a generous quality to the spaces, while also making sure the home is hardwearing.

"Beacon House is externally tiled with handmade glazed tiles in a pink shade that complements the house's warm brick tones. These have been custom made for the project by Materials Assemble and each tile has been made using extruded clay and hand craftsmanship. The tiles are exactly scaled-up versions of the curved corner tiles found on the London underground, and the pink-colored glaze is the same as used in the Hammersmith and City Line stations.

"The architects collaborated with local artists and crafts people to develop bespoke elements that add texture and intrigue to the spaces. Bespoke patterned worktops were ordered for the kitchen, a hand painted number was commissioned for the front of the house, and the soft banquette seating was sewn by a local upholsterer to deliver community wealth building on a domestic scale.

"Creating a long-term home that is better insulated, well ventilated, and more sustainable was important to the family and the architects. The existing fabric of the building has been thermally upgraded throughout with new insulation, windows, and airtightness measures. The chosen palette of materials is made up of natural and recycled materials, which includes a natural linoleum flooring in the living area, bespoke patterned timber worktops, locally sourced low-VOC paints, and recycled fabrics for the upholstery.

"Curves feature throughout the house, from the curved walls and furniture in the kitchen to the rounded external tiles, which echo the generosity of municipal architecture. 

"The site slopes towards the garden allowing the house to open up progressively as you move through the spaces and descend into the kitchen and garden. At the same time the color scheme offsets this descent, with warm darker tones in the high front room giving way to the light filled kitchen extension below."