Mellow metallic finishes lend warmth to a London house remodelled by Simon Astridge Architecture Workshop
Brass is the prevailing theme in the extension and remodelling of a West London terraced house recently completed by Simon Astridge Architecture Workshop. Not only is the honey-toned metal used for fixtures ranging from lights to taps and ironmongery, but it is also used to form stairs and kitchen cabinetry, and to line door openings and window reveals.
“The idea of brass as a signature tone was sparked by the client’s love for cooking and fond memories of holidays in Portugal and Israel, where they were inspired by the opulent and visually rich interiors”, says Astridge. “Our brief to bring these memories back”.
Though the house has been extensively remodelled, with the addition of a new basement level as well as a ground-floor extension, the architects’ aim was to retain as much of the original Victorian fabric as possible. “The natural ageing of the polished brass elements sits beautifully against the grain of the existing heritage fabric, offset against further heavy materials such as walnut, stone and steel”, says Astridge.
The rear facade of the new extension extends over both the ground and basement levels, and is clad in hand-crafted matte black mild steel panels, “which reflect the traditional materials of London terrace houses”, suggests Astridge. The design of the facade and of the open-plan kitchen/dining area “places emphasis on the connection between the garden and dining area and creating a space for the family to gather”, says Astridge. “A cantilevered window snug faces a flowering cherry tree where the children can read with their mother”.
Steel is also used to distinguish new additions inside the house. A folded mild steel staircase descends from the ground floor to the new basement, which contains spaces for family entertainment. “A careful use of colour and texture was chosen to divide the open plan basement zone allowing for flexible use”, says Astridge. The palette comprises a hardwearing concrete floor, warm oak parquet flooring and high gloss paint, along with a purple-pigmented concrete bench and glass and steel screen.
On the top level of the house brass reappears in an open plan master suite, designed to maximise natural light via the insertion of rooflights in the bathing and dressing zones. In the bathing area, SAAW has used a combination of large porcelain slabs and ornamented tiles, with “planting as a lush and soft material to balance the space”. A hand-made sink was designed as the central point of the space, which is tied together with accents of brass.
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