Design Buy Build

Main Menu

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Rates & Data
    • Media Pack
  • Digital
    • Information
    • Latest Newsletter
  • Issues
    • 2025
      • Issue 74
      • Issue 73
      • Issue 72
    • 2024
      • Issue 71
      • Issue 70
      • Issue 69
      • Issue 68
      • Issue 67
      • Issue 66
    • 2023
      • Issue 65
      • Issue 64
      • Issue 63
      • Issue 62
      • Issue 61
      • Issue 60
    • 2022
      • Issue 59
      • Issue 58
      • Issue 57
      • Issue 56
      • Issue 55
      • Issue 54
    • 2021
      • Issue 53
      • Issue 52
      • Issue 51
      • Issue 50
      • Issue 49
      • Issue 48
    • 2020
      • Issue 47
      • Issue 46
      • Issue 45
      • Issue 44
      • Issue 43
      • Issue 42
    • 2019
      • Issue 41
      • Issue 40
      • Issue 39
      • Issue 38
      • Issue 37
      • Issue 36
    • 2018
      • Issue 35
      • Issue 34
      • Issue 33
      • Issue 32
      • Issue 31
      • Issue 30
    • 2017
      • Issue 29
      • Issue 28
      • Issue 27
      • Issue 26
      • Issue 25
      • Issue 24
    • 2016
      • Issue 23
      • Issue 22
      • Issue 21
      • Issue 20
      • Issue 19
      • Issue 18
    • 2015
      • Issue 17
      • Issue 16
      • Issue 15
      • Issue 14
      • Issue 13
      • Issue 12
    • 2014
      • Issue 11
      • Issue 10
      • Issue 9
      • Issue 8
      • Issue 7
    • 2013
      • Issue 6
      • Issue 5
      • Issue 4
      • Issue 3
      • Issue 2
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login

logo

Design Buy Build

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Rates & Data
    • Media Pack
  • Digital
    • Information
    • Latest Newsletter
  • Issues
    • 2025
      • Issue 74
      • Issue 73
      • Issue 72
    • 2024
      • Issue 71
      • Issue 70
      • Issue 69
      • Issue 68
      • Issue 67
      • Issue 66
    • 2023
      • Issue 65
      • Issue 64
      • Issue 63
      • Issue 62
      • Issue 61
      • Issue 60
    • 2022
      • Issue 59
      • Issue 58
      • Issue 57
      • Issue 56
      • Issue 55
      • Issue 54
    • 2021
      • Issue 53
      • Issue 52
      • Issue 51
      • Issue 50
      • Issue 49
      • Issue 48
    • 2020
      • Issue 47
      • Issue 46
      • Issue 45
      • Issue 44
      • Issue 43
      • Issue 42
    • 2019
      • Issue 41
      • Issue 40
      • Issue 39
      • Issue 38
      • Issue 37
      • Issue 36
    • 2018
      • Issue 35
      • Issue 34
      • Issue 33
      • Issue 32
      • Issue 31
      • Issue 30
    • 2017
      • Issue 29
      • Issue 28
      • Issue 27
      • Issue 26
      • Issue 25
      • Issue 24
    • 2016
      • Issue 23
      • Issue 22
      • Issue 21
      • Issue 20
      • Issue 19
      • Issue 18
    • 2015
      • Issue 17
      • Issue 16
      • Issue 15
      • Issue 14
      • Issue 13
      • Issue 12
    • 2014
      • Issue 11
      • Issue 10
      • Issue 9
      • Issue 8
      • Issue 7
    • 2013
      • Issue 6
      • Issue 5
      • Issue 4
      • Issue 3
      • Issue 2
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Projects
Home›Projects›Space is the Place

Space is the Place

By Antony Holter
September 27, 2018
2126
0

How GSA Architects designed-in a generous sense of space within an existing Victorian  semi-detached property in the heart of Kensington.

The house is situated in a neatly appointed row of elegant early Victorian houses in a pretty tree lined street close to both Kensington High Street and Holland Park.

When architects talk about genius loci they are referring to a location’s distinctive atmosphere or spirit of place. With notable residents such as the Pre-Raphaelite painter John Waterhouse growing up nearby, the spirit here is of a refined, genteel bohemianism.

Although externally these houses may appear spacious, many architectural inadequacies remain, so when GSA were commissioned by a young family, to re-design one of these 4 storey dwellings they were tasked with rebuilding and extending the existing ‘conservatory’ type extension to the rear of the house.

By lowering the internal lower ground floor level, adjusting garden levels and making alterations to the projecting volume below the rear ground floor terrace as well as making various internal changes to the upper levels, GSA were able to give the whole house a more contemporary and sophisticated feel.

 

Space Reconfigured

It is within the innate modus operandi of architects to reconfigure space, they find ways to make more room, open out or install ingenious new light sources, hide away all your clutter and generally make for a more stress free negotiation of everyday living.

One of the first things the architects identified was that the central area of the existing lower ground floor space had little or no purpose whilst the kitchen and sitting room were pushed to either end.  Having explored various options they concluded that the central space should be where the working parts of the kitchen are located. Large glazed sliding doors, not only improve daylight but when fully open make the dining area feel like part of the garden and vice versa.

Externally, the existing steps were pushed back into the garden creating a small patio area. A gentle slope up to the garden level was introduced using porous materials so that plants could grow up through the steps. All these changes allowed for a much softer and greener appearance.

 

Material Matters

A key concern of the client was that the house should feel homely and warm, so often the school of ‘less is more’ architectural minimalism can result in a clinical regimented environment. This is why the materiality of this project became such an important part of the process.

Timber flooring was used throughout with the herringbone pattern in the kitchen/dining area being echoed in the outside areas.

Three different worktop materials were used in the kitchen, upon which GSA worked very closely with Roundhouse Design.  The main cooking area has a stainless steel worktop, the island is marble and the breakfast bar is wood.  The  kitchen island and some detailing were brought out in brass.  As Guy Stansfeld says “ I was hesitant about this initially but, in reality, the materials complement one another and the overall effect is perfectly harmonious”.

Colourful laminate, veneers and painted doors were used for the ‘out of sight out of mind’ generous storage solutions incorporated throughout the house especially in the utility room. It is in this room with its use of colourful Victorian style encaustic tiles that some of our original genius loci is brought into play. Although this room may evoke a spirit of Victoriana it is nonetheless completely contemporary in style and execution.

 

23+GS/318
www.318.studio

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Related

Previous Article

TURN THE iPAD INTO THE FOCUS OF ...

Next Article

Floorcraft fits the FEINest floors (and ceilings) ...

Latest Issue



[Click Here to view the Low Res PDF version]

<center>
© Copyright Design Buy Build. All rights reserved.
MH Media Global uses cookies to ensure the best user experience. If you do not wish to allow cookies, please click refuse.AcceptRefusePrivacy Policy