Brutalist glamour
The smooth patina found in poured concrete gives this London home a delicately industrial edge
this former industrial unit has been transformed into a ground floor studio office to let and a lateral first floor, five-bedroomed family home. ‘It’s an unusual site in that the gardens of the neighbouring Victorian houses back onto it on all four sides,’ says Andrew House, an associate at Carmody Groarke, the British architectural practice that undertook the renovation.
From the outset, the property’s owner was keen on using exposed concrete for the interior, and wanted to create a warehouse-loft feel with an open-plan living space. ‘Poured concrete is quite sculptural – as a material, it has traditionally been used in construction, but in recent years, it has been appreciated much more for the qualities of its finish,’ explains Andrew. Bringing in additional industrial-style materials that complement the concrete – such as a wall lined top-to-bottom with oak doors in the hallway, a blackened steel shelf unit by the dining table and a double vanity unit made from finely veined Carrara marble in the main bedroom’s ensuite – prevents the home from looking too stark.
‘Each room has a glass door that faces a small, intimate courtyard, which allows lots of light to pour into the house,’ says Andrew. ‘The glass doors in the living space slide right back into the pocket of the wall so that the room opens up completely, creating an uninterrupted view of the garden, which sits on the roof of the studio office.’
In other spaces – such as the kitchen, hallway and swimming pool – skylights draw daylight downwards from the roof. Together with the minimal furniture, these clever details ensure that the considered palette of materials takes centre stage. carmodygroarke.com
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TUCKED AWAY BEHIND A ROW OF VICTORIAN TERRACED HOUSES IN LAMBETH, SOUTH LONDON,