Residential Establishment, Beacon House, Under Scrutiny
In the heart of north London, a Victorian terraced house has undergone a remarkable transformation, thanks to the creative minds at Office S&M. This contemporary reinterpretation of traditional elements showcases a thoughtful combination of materials, colors, and design inspiration, centred around light, texture, and architectural detail.
The contractor for the project, YG Builders Ltd., has expertly remodelled the house to create generous quality spaces, ensuring hardwearing durability. The materials palette includes natural and recycled products like linoleum flooring, bespoke patterned timber worktops, low-VOC paints, and recycled fabrics.
The color scheme, innovatively balances the natural hues of timber with contrasting darker or metallic elements such as zinc. The exterior features timber cladding arranged in vertical or horizontal patterns, sometimes combined with other natural materials like brick or stone for visual interest. Metal elements like zinc cladding are also used, lending an industrial touch.
The interior and exterior colors likely draw from the homeowners’ love of art and architecture, resulting in a medley of textures and subtle colors that create an inviting and dynamic atmosphere. The loft extension features Valchromat cladding, a matt wood fiber material with a fluted texture that adds depth and a tactile quality to the surfaces.
The design was inspired by the homeowners’ passion for art, design, and architecture, striving to blend traditional Victorian charm with modern, functional living spaces. The project embraces daylight maximization through floor-to-ceiling glazing and open-plan layouts to create bright, free-flowing interiors.
The remodel respects the original character of the Victorian terrace while reconfiguring the layout for maximum usability and light. A balance between preserving historical elements and adding contemporary features like zinc cladding and large glazed doors is central to the design ethos, creating a home that feels both rooted in its heritage and forward-looking.
The house features curves throughout, including curved walls, furniture, and external tiles. The site slopes down towards the garden, allowing the house to open up as one moves through the spaces and descends into the kitchen and garden. The existing building fabric was thermally upgraded with new insulation, windows, and airtightness measures.
Local artists and craftspeople collaborated with the architect to create bespoke elements, such as a hand-painted number for the front of the house and soft banquette seating sewn by a local upholsterer. Even the pink glazed tiles on the house, which match the tone used to denote the Hammersmith and City Line, are scaled-up versions of the curved corner tiles found on the London underground.
The sliding toilet door in the house resembles the curved sliding doors found on tube trains, while the color scheme augments the progression, with warm darker tones in the front room giving way to the light-filled kitchen extension below. The pink glazed tiles on the house are a standout feature, partially cladding the house and custom made by Materials Assemble.
This remodel by Office S&M presents a sophisticated blend of traditional Victorian architecture and modern design principles, utilizing natural and industrial materials, interesting textures, and a carefully curated palette inspired by art and urban living. The result is a stunning transformation that respects the past while embracing the future.
The transformation undertaken by Office S&M, with YG Builders Ltd.'s expertise, has integrated sustainable living practices into the home-and-garden project by using recycled materials such as linoleum flooring, recycled fabrics, and low-VOC paints for the interior-design, aligning with the lifestyle of promoting eco-friendliness. The design ethos also includes a combination of traditional Victorian charm and modern functionality, showcasing the homeowners' passion for art, design, and architecture.
