hampstead heath
The original buildings were a pair of houses in a 1950’s terrace. Both properties were in an advanced state of disrepair and suffered from small room sizes, and a change in level at ground floor that emphasised the cellular nature of the accommodation. Our brief was to create two properties – one for high-end residential letting and the other for the client to live in. It was also important to retain the cohesion of the original terrace in this central Hampstead location.
To achieve this major reconfiguration the properties were demolished except for part of the front facades. Structural alterations allowed the ground floor living spaces to be on a single level, fully open plan and with incredible ceiling heights of 3.5m. A bespoke staircase consisting of ‘floating’ timber treads and clear glass created a subtle division between spaces but retained the open plan, light filled character of the ground floor. The stair, oriented completely differently to the original, ascends through the house within a dramatic double height space. We navigated through planning and conservation area restrictions to win very large dormers with extensive metal-framed glazing.
From the street the properties remain modest behind the high walls of the front courtyards, but once inside they open up into light filled generous space. Our client is very appreciative that two dynamic houses have been created out of such unassuming original buildings.