LIGHT WORK

and excavating down radically transformed this stylish terrace by Andrew Stanic and Rasmus Lund where an airy stairwell spans the home’s three levels and ushers light into its centre. Our clients had been keeping an eye on two new terrace-type houses we were working on – they approached the builders and then got in touch. The brief required us to renovate the  In a terrace house the challenges are always the same: the lack of space, the damp, the connection to natural light and air, especially in the centre of the house, and council requirements, which are very stringent for Paddington. The scheme used every millimetre of space. Working with expert builders Kinn Construction, we extended down by excavating a new lower level and went up to create an ensuite for guests and a study in the attic. We also used joinery instead of walls and employed mirrors to extend the space. Damp requires careful consideration and expert advice. We redirected groundwater, carried out extensive tanking and ensured that all in-wall cavity and underfloor spaces were mechanically ventilated and ducted to the outside. A large, operable skylight in the main stairwell along with an adjoining two-storey window washes the central part of the house in light. On the ground- and first-floor landings an open slatted floor allows this to filter through all three levels and provides natural ventilation. Large steel- framed doors and windows provide a connection to the garden and Paddington roofscapes. It is a highly crafted interior that fuses the scale and detail of the original spaces with a sensitive, contemporary approach. Scale and vistas are controlled and connection to the garden maximised. An all-white interior was seen as inappropriate so colour was carefully considered and we brought in Interni to expertly assist in this aspect. We love the central stairwell with its black waxed-steel central blade wall and Escher-like hardwood stairs that are detailed the same above and below. This area is detailed to maximise a limited space, extending views and connection to light and air via the large steel-framed window and operable skylight. The client and our friends at Interni worked very hard in close collaboration to ensure the new furniture and some existing pieces worked in the interiors. We were lucky the clients have a very good eye so their art collection was carefully curated before hanging. Finishes were selected to reinforce whether the room was to offer a contained experience or to flow from one space to the next. The pressed-metal ceiling coffer in the kitchen also does this well and was a client suggestion. The fittings are all high quality and selected for their design and functional qualities. They are exceedingly happy and use the house as their primary home. The differing qualities of each space allow them to enjoy combined activities or pursue their own interests without interruption as it affords options depending on the mood and task.