this north london townhouse — ‘the step house’ — is an unorthodox sight in a neighborhood full of traditional terrace houses, each around a hundred or so years old. this particular flat redesigned by bureau de change rethinks the classic english typology. the design team incorporated a step-like extrusion from the home’s rear garden that adds a playful hint to the ordinary old home. the firm explains that ‘the brick, left exposed inside and out, is celebrated in a way that respects the existing house while clearly departing from the traditional language of the historic architecture.’

step house
all images by ben blossom

 

 

the design by bureau de change affords a more comfortable and modern living situation. it also creates a playful relationship with the exterior garden and sunlight outside, often wasted with tiny windows — ‘the spaces unfold in a sequence from dark to light.’ the result of this addition is a more open, breathable home — when walking through, one is struck by the unique, raw beauty of the brick material.

step house

 

 

most impressively perhaps is the lack of a visual structural support for this fascinating brick step design, an effect that co-founder billy mavropoulos says was very important to the illusion and the realization of the deign. ‘we worked closely with the structural engineers to create an entirely column-free space,’ he says. the lack of visible structure seemingly defies the traditional principles of architecture, making this typical vernacular townhouse an imaginative playground for the owners. 

step house

step house

step house

step house

step house

step house