When a south London family of four decided to upgrade their Balham house into an expansive home with extra living space, an indoor swimming pool and a sauna, they turned to emerging architects Jaam, luxury specialist Mascot Bespoke, and joinery expert Blakes London for help. Now, the house, a Victorian property redesign called Nightingale Triangle, has just been completed – sporting a striking wood clad extension that cuts a distinctly contemporary figure within its sleepy residential neighbourhood and offers a fine example of home improvement.
‘The client was looking to avoid the pastiche London Stock brick-based extensions that were commonplace within the area,’ explains Chris Scott of Mascot Bespoke Homes. As a result, an intensely collaborative approach between all parties led to the final design that features the rear extension’s impressively sculptural larch cladding, which defines the whole scheme.
‘The cladding by Mascot Bespoke was set at a 45-degree angle and is mitred at the soffit. This increases solar shading while creating a graphic linear language to the elevations,' Scott says. The wood skin mixes burnt and silvered Scottish larch. Inside, the deep-set fixed window by the kitchen creates a garden bench seat, perfect for relaxing while looking to the architectural gardens outside, which were created by Shelley Hughes.
‘The aim was to create an ambitious, unique and design-led home that accentuated and contrasted the existing Victorian building with a contemporary extension to the rear,’ adds Scott. ‘It was important to the client that the home ended up being an appropriate blend of modern sophistication in the new parts of the building both architecturally and decoratively, yet also retained a warm, inviting, friendly vibe for visitors and guest of all ages.’
Glazed expanses mix with timber, original brick and soft fabrics to create a home that is both comfortable and modern. The swimming pool, located off the side of the building, under the narrowest part of the garden, features a cleverly angled ceiling that promotes a cosy, cave-like feel, while also allowing views out to the verdant garden – showcasing how this design blends inside and outside in more ways than one.
INFORMATION
-
Samuel Ross begins a new chapter with Zara: ‘Clothes give you the power to transform’Samuel Ross gives Wallpaper* a first look at his ‘multi-chapter design dialogue’ with Zara, which begins with a clothing collection launching this February
-
A new lakeshore cottage in Ontario is a spectacular retreat set beneath angled zinc roofsFamily Cottage by Vokac Taylor mixes spatial gymnastics with respect for its rocky, forested waterside site
-
Steve McQueen presents a portrait of protest in BritainTurner Contemporary’s groundbreaking exhibition Resistance reframes the history of protest, reminding us of photography’s political potential
-
From a mobile pub to a thatched canopy: Japanese architecture and craft explored at AA show in London'Distillation of Architecture', a new AA show in London, pairs architects with materials and makers in an exploration of craft through the Japanese lens
-
A library in a London telephone box? This is a charming reading nook full of surprisesSet in a restored London telephone box, Upper Street Little Library is a cosy beacon to encourage reading to the wider community
-
This revamped east London terraced house is a music lover’s dreamAn east London terraced house gets a boost of personality and sustainability thanks to Archmongers, whose transformation makes room for the owners’ creativity and extensive record collection
-
This elegant infill project slots beautifully into the London streetscapeIn this infill project, a row of garages in Blackheath, south-east London, has been replaced by a contemporary family home by local practice Mailen Design
-
Don’t Move, Improve 2025: the 14 London homes adding design oomph to the everydayThe shortlist for Don’t Move, Improve 2025 has been announced, revealing 14 residential projects across London that add value and pizazz to their inhabitants’ daily lives
-
Space House: explore the brutalist London landmark’s new chapterSpace House, a landmark of brutalist architecture by Richard Seifert & Partners in London’s Covent Garden, is back following a 21st-century redesign by Squire & Partners and developer Seaforth Land
-
Fire-damaged Walworth Town Hall shows off majestic transformationWalworth Town Hall gets a much-needed reimagining by Feix & Merlin, who transformed the heritage building into a contemporary workspace and a hub of its local community in south London
-
Hanif Kara on building materials, the transition from old to new, and a healthy dose of realismHanif Kara, co-founder of structural engineering practice AKT II, discusses building materials and the future of sustainability
