Stepping in to aid the reimagining of a family home in North London, architecture practice Russian for Fish is the expert behind this modern urban redesign that brings together old and new through a geometric, zinc clad extension.
The first thing the firm had to do was support their client through the planning process that had proven tricky in the past due to a badly built post-war addition to their Victorian terraced house, which complicated the process. Swiftly overcoming this hurdle allowed the architects to transform the two bedroom house into a contemporary four bedroom home through the addition of two discreet volumes – one on the ground floor, towards the garden at the rear, and one on the top level, expanding the interior into the loft space.
The family's main living space was dramatically increased with a new ground level kitchen and dining area. Its irregularly angled roof was custom designed to catch the best daylight for the interiors. Meanwhile, extending the second floor into a previous dormer space created ample room for a loft en-suite.
Zinc cladding wraps around the new parts, elegantly signifying the additions, with dark coloured frames highlighting their floor-to-ceiling openings. Inside, a colour palette dominated by greys, blues and neutral colours enriches a sophisticated composition of surfaces that includes materials such as concrete (in the kitchen worktops, for example) and oak parquet floors (including the one in the living room).
The East London-based architecture and design studio is an experienced hand when it comes to contemporary residential work on any scale. Set up by Pereen d'Avoine in 2006 and now co-directed by d'Avoine and Nilesh Shah, the firm also has workspaces, installations and exhibition design under its belt with several ongoing projects, including a striking pair of live/work units in South London.
INFORMATION
-
Zaha Hadid Architects’ new project will be Miami’s priciest condoConstruction has commenced at The Delmore, an oceanfront condominium from the design firm founded by the late Zaha Hadid, ZHA
-
This Beirut design collective threads untold stories into upholstered antique furnitureBeirut-based Bokja opens a Notting Hill pop-up that's a temple to textiles, from upholstered furniture to embroidered cushions crafted by artisans (until 25 March 2025)
-
The Peninsula Hotels broadens its artistic horizons with Victoria and Albert Museum partnershipThe Peninsula Hotels and Victoria and Albert Museum announce a multi-year collaboration set to produce world-class art experiences around the world
-
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
-
Year in review: the top 12 houses of 2024, picked by architecture director Ellie StathakiThe top 12 houses of 2024 comprise our finest and most read residential posts of the year, compiled by Wallpaper* architecture & environment director Ellie Stathaki
-
An eco-conscious reconfiguration of space revives a London homeAn eco-conscious reimagining of a Victorian terraced home for a growing London family, THISS Studio’s Hartley House offers sustainable, spacious living
-
This listed house in London is transformed through a contemporary celebration of the archSegmental House, a listed house transformation by Dominic McKenzie Architects, taps into the playful powers of the contemporary arch
-
Ebb and flow: Tidal House is a harmonious retreat on the Solway CoastTidal House by Brown & Brown Architects redefines coastal living with a design that balances privacy, openness, and harmony with nature
-
Farshid Moussavi’s new house in Hove is about ‘what you need and nothing more’A new house in Hove, designed by Farshid Moussavi for her parents, hits the right notes between functional and minimalist in the British seaside town
