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Location: London, UK

Architect: Strom Architects Ltd

Interior Designer: Hena Sawjani / Studio Maria

Developer: Spring Residential

Photography: Richard Chivers

Strom Architects were approached by Spring Residential to collaborate on the redesign of large family house in London that had already been granted planning permission by a previous architect.

The clients wanted a more contemporary house that would suit their busy lives, whilst providing a comfortable home for their family. Whilst the ground floor plan remained, the architectural language was simplified to have a stronger concept with a long rectangular first floor volume, spanning across the ground floor H-shaped plan.

The central part of the “H” comprises a large double-height entrance space, emphasised by a two-storey chimney, a sweeping helical staircase, and a living area commanding the central space of the house. One of the legs of the “H” contains kitchen, dining and home office, while the other is service orientated with garage, nanny’s room, plant, cinema and a spa area with pool, steam room and hot tub. Strom Architects collaborated with Elite Metalcraft to bring the vision for the feature spiral staircase from the drawing board to reality. Elite has a team of artisan engineers and metal workers who through meticulous craftmanship produced a polished steel carcass that could be finished by a specialist polished plasterer.

The first floor volume sits over the H-shape and consists of four en-suite bedrooms to one side of the double height gallery. To the other side is a generous master bedroom with a spacious en-suite and dressing room. The bedroom enjoys a private balcony overlooking the garden.

The first floor is expressed as a lighter form utilising white render and contrasts with the solidity of the lower brick volume creating a clear architectural diagram. The “H” creates and entrance courtyard to the road, where openings and windows are carefully considered to provide privacy while creating a welcoming entrance. Full height glazing surrounding the open plan kitchen, dining and living spaces opens up to a private courtyard and allow the house to feel transparent and connected with the landscaped garden.