erbar mattes wraps london home in soft wood and dusty brick

situated on harvey road — a quiet residential street in crouch end, london — architecture studio erbar mattes has transformed this family home into a wood filled sanctuary suffused with light. the existing three storey structure, an edwardian mid-terraced house, is the home of a family with two young children. 

a movable oak framed window allows the space to open towards the terrace
all images by ståle eriksen

the former ground floor layout was biased towards the front of the house where a playroom, dining space and kitchen were arranged within an undefined open space, oriented towards the street and the party wall of a neighboring extension. the brief was to reconfigure and extend the ground floor in order to improve the connection to the garden, while simultaneously reconfiguring ancillary spaces to meet the needs of the family.

the former bay window was reinterpreted as a deep rectangular opening with integrated window seat

the new ‘garden room’ inverts the former street-facing layout in a striking design defined by sand colored brick and smooth wood surfacing. benefiting from the afternoon light, this space forms the new heart of the house, incorporating kitchen, dining and play area for the children. the flank and rear walls of the original extension were removed at ground floor level in order to accommodate the new extension with side return. the space is tectonically defined by the new structural elements, which bear the load of the floor above. the former bay window arrangement was reinterpreted as one large opening with a deep window seat, corresponding with the depth of the first floor bay window. a movable oak framed window allows the space to open towards the terrace, while the children’s toys are stored in large drawers underneath the upholstered bench.

a new roof light covers the full width the infill extension, washing the interior masonry with natural daylight

a generous roof light running the length of the room floods the new party wall with natural daylight. level access to the garden is via a high timber framed glass door. the existing narrow outdoor terrace was enlarged to form a patio, defined by intricate interlocking arrow shaped tiles. the pre-cast concrete window sill and masonry plinth serve as seating areas, and a new timber fence structures the garden.

the kitchen work surfaces are constructed with GFR concrete

in its design, erbar mattes was interested in exploring materials that would give the new construction a sense of permanence and solidity. lime washed masonry, precast concrete, and white oiled oak were used throughout with precast concrete used for the sill, lintel and copings. the precast elements are composed of white limestone aggregates and white cement, and sandblasted to a rough finish. structural components were clad in oak veneer internally, matching the floor boards and built-in furniture. the work surfaces in the kitchen are formed of single concrete slabs with exposed aggregates and a honed finish. the result is a smooth and visually harmonious space that feels both secure and serene in equal parts.

interior detail of the facade and window seat with integrated storage

white oiled oak, bespoke concrete and masonry were used throughout 

the former drawing room was reinstated in its original shape

built-in joinery detail

project info: 

timeframe: 2016
contractor: ireneusz maduzia
structural engineer: thomas hallam consulting limited
services engineer: environmental engineering partnership
lighting: luxologie / viabizzuno
photography: ståle eriksen

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edited by: peter corboy | designboom