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THE RED HOUSE
Year: 2002 The Red House, situated on the northern edge of Hampstead Heath in London and benefiting from a large garden, suffered internally from low ceilings, an ill-conceived layout of small rooms and presented ample potential for development. The Client’s brief was to increase the accommodation space and exploit the potential of the house to become a distinctive property. The design proposal has played on the contrast between the traditional style of the house and the contemporary design of the new intervention.The planning process proved to be particularly challenging as the property lies within the Heath Fringes section of Highgate Conservation Area.After extensive dialogue with Haringey Council, approval was granted to carry out the works largely as envisaged. Increases of over 50% of the ground floor area and 25% of the first floor area were achieved. A substantial extension with a glazed section overlooking the outdoor pool was added at ground floor, where the floor level was lowered to gain much-needed headroom.A smaller extension at first floor provided space to accommodate two large master bedrooms and two double bedrooms.Loft space on the second floor was used to accommodate a gymnasium, two more bedrooms and a self-contained studio. The materials used for the interiors include large travertine slabs for floor and wall in the east-facing timber-and-glass family room extension with views across the swimming pool and into the garden beyond.A sculptural fireplace of contemporary design forms the visual focus in the sequence of spaces accommodated in the new addition.
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