Artists' House showcases reuse, adaptation and evolution of an existing dwelling. The use of hardwood Sapele, oak floors and lime plaster is found throughout, minimising the number of materials, deliveries and construction waste. The project set out to keep as much of the original building fabric as possible, and showcases interventions that profoundly transform the feel and use of the home. The plot now hosts a family home, an open and airy double fronted artist studio located in the loft, a home office area, and a leather designer and craftsman's workshop in the garden. Louise's work is displayed on walls throughout the house. Previously a photographer, now a painter, samples of her work can be found on https://www.louisedelima.com/ Nivaldo is a designer and craftsman. Alongside bringing creations to life in the garden studio, some of his work is also present across the house in the form of leather coverings and bespoke furniture. http://nivaldoandlouisedelima.com/ The client approached us to assist them with the redesign and extension of their newly purchased London terraced house, keen for it to be a close creative collaboration. We were asked to develop a design that honoured the principles of mid-century modern architecture: clean lines, simple detailing, practicality, connection between indoors and outdoors, large openings and natural materials. The brief was to extend and reconfigure an existing house in order to incorporate an artist studio, a home office, three double bedrooms, one en-suite, a generous family bathroom, open flowing living areas and vast expanses of clear wall space to display the client's art. Instead of starting afresh, we thought to reuse the existing low grade ground floor extension, transforming it by means of increasing the rear openings, adding new ones and incorporating a dramatic skylight. The ground floor space was set to be bright, maximising on the relationship between the living rooms and the garden. We incorporated new heating, plumbing end electrical systems, and added increased thermal and acoustic insulation wherever possible. The outbuilding facade mirrors that of the rear extension, creating a warm and familiar outlook from the dining/kitchen. Overall despite the varying uses, the home reads as a whole. The planning constraints were primarily linked to height and size of the outbuilding and loft extension, and the retention of an established street pattern that we wanted to be sensitive towards. The new building elements are in timber construction, lightweight and fast to assemble. All the windows, doors, cladding and joinery were made of the same hardwood and made in a workshop off site, then delivered in one go, to ensure we reduced the amount of transport to site and overall waste. The kitchen was also hand crafted alongside the joinery. The project showcases the integration of functional and healthy working spaces within a family home. The spaces bear a strong connection with the outdoor surroundings and the users are encouraged to engage with the building fabric. It is an ode to simplicity and limitation of materials: Sapele hardwood, oak floors and lime plaster walls throughout. We tried to keep a strict palette of materials, fixtures and suppliers, in order to limit the number of orders and deliveries. Light fittings and finishes are consistent across floors allowing the building to act as a thought-out backdrop to the more varied layers of daily life. We retained all existing window openings and the original ground floor extension but found ways to transform it, allowing the home to take on a new life set to last many more years. We found a strategy whereby we could create an open plan top floor with dual aspect views that could successfully incorporate both an office, an art studio designed to host large canvases and space efficient art storage. By exposing the structure and limiting the number of walls we managed to achieve an unusual loft space, that meets the brief and involves minimal use of materials. The chipboard floor in the studio is left unfinished and untreated and the large expanses of walls are designed to be painted over freely. Curtains and blinds everywhere allow for the light to be controlled and for the users to engage with the spaces providing means to alter them to suit different seasons and times of day. Working in new uses and a distinctly different room arrangement within an existing footprint was a welcome challenge. Now from the new front door you are drawn right through to the garden and the flow of rooms is instinctive and clear. We wanted to ensure that the design would reflect the specific needs of the homeowners and have respect for the existing building by means of retaining any existing elements where possible. The design of the spaces and plan allows for flexibility of use, encourages primary reliance on natural light and passive ventilation. The house systems are simple but efficient, and by means of using more expensive but longer lasting materials the building's life cycle is set to last longer and wear better over time. The home is now filled with light and art, it accommodates ample amounts of storage to support the open plan living arrangement. Walls are clad either in natural raw lime plaster or cork, offering surfaces with natural variation and intrinsic warmth. The family bathroom has an openable skylight located two stories above that draws light deep into the plan and offers essential ventilation on top of creating a one-off spatial experience. As a modern take on mid-century architecture, the home honours principles of connectivity with the outdoors, The spaces are generous and open, connected and free flowing, filled with natural light yet with means of shading/privacy throughout. The project involved minimal demolition, as we worked to try and retain as much building fabric as possible. The addition of better insulation and replacement of all windows within the existing openings allow the home to perform much better year round. We visited the client's previous property in order to understand their way of living, and made note of all items of furniture they owned so we could find space for them in the new home in order to encourage reuse rather than the purchase of new items. The kitchen is made of stained bamboo with a reclaimed alabaster splash back sourced from an architectural salvage yard.