simon astridge extends south london home to create a sanctuary with city views

simon astridge has extended a house in south london to offer panoramic views across the sprawling city. the project was completed for architectural photographer edmund sumner and writer and curator yuki sumner, who wanted a sanctuary-like space where they could relax and unwind. taking advantage of the house’s elevated plot, the loft extension contains the couple’s master bedroom. floor to ceiling glazing presents views of a communal garden filled with rich vegetation, which recedes in winter to reveal the towers of the city.

all images © edmund sumner

when discussing the project with architect simon astridge, who recently established the firm szczepaniak astridge, yuki and edmund sumner sought to include elements of japanese architecture. ‘I mentioned to simon that you are made to bow to enter a japanese tearoom through an entrance intentionally made small,’ explains yuki sumner. ‘this is to signify that you are leaving behind your normal social status (as well as all of your worries and stress) so that you can focus on having a nice cup of tea and enjoy the intimate conversation you have with your host.’

this is referenced in the metal arch over the steel staircase that leads to the bedroom, signifying the transition from the outside world to the lofted retreat. another aspect of the scheme that recalls japanese design is the window-adjacent bath by william garvey. the simple form of the tub is complemented with exposed copper piping and a wood burning fireplace. the bed’s large headboard conceals a void, or a ‘non-space’, that has deliberately been left empty at the back of the room.

during the project, astridge introduced the sumners to clayworks — a company based in cornwall, england that manufactures natural clay plasters. using the technique ‘tsuchikabe’ or ‘arakabe’, clayworks applied clay-mud to the interior surfaces. to bring an additional sense of nature inside the home, yuki, edmund, and their two children each chose a leaf from the shared garden at the rear of the plot and made their unique imprints into the clay walls. meanwhile, two new children’s bedrooms, fitted out with timber furniture and cork pinboards, occupy the storey below.

the original proposal for ‘leaf house’
see more sketches by architect simon astridge in the gallery below

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project info:

name: leaf house
location: london, UK
clients: edmund sumner (website | twitter | instagram) and yuki sumner (website | twitter | instagram)
architect: simon astridge / szczepaniak astridge (instagram)
structural engineer: steve webb / webbyates (twitter | instagram)
photography: edmund sumner
contractor: QProjects ltd (instagram)
furniture: luke povey / chipfix furniture (instagram)
clay walls: clayworks (instagram)
applied by: guy valentine (instagram)
bath by: william garvey furniture makers (instagram | twitter)
lights by: olivier abry / wo and wé (instagram)
ironmongery by: dauby (instagram)