Lime-plastered brickwork, timber boards, and cork panels shape the innovative transformation of Pine House, a terraced home in London. Local architecture studio Polysmiths, known for addressing design challenges with creativity, spearheaded this renovation in Peckham to overcome common constraints found in Victorian terraces.
Polysmiths’ founder Charles Wu aimed to open up the home’s narrow layout by introducing a dramatic double-height void at its heart to optimize natural light. “The generative brief targeted the Victorian terrace’s limitations: its long, narrow proportions, compressed rear extension, and inadequate daylight,” Wu explained.
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The renovation centers on the concept of designing with light, turning it into a primary material. The focus was on creating spaces that embody shadow and texture to enrich the atmosphere. A continuous axis on the ground floor links the home’s reception room, marked by a bay window, to a glazed garden room at the rear, sheltered by timber slats.
At the core of Pine House is a central kitchen and dining area, positioned within the new double-height void. This area is bathed in light from strategically placed southern windows and is overlooked by a mezzanine library. Wu noted the absence of a conventional rear extension, instead, light floods from above through the void, enhancing the kitchen and living areas.
The home’s material palette merges harmoniously in the central space, featuring lime-washed brick, timber-lined walls, and cork board ceilings. The upper floors house four bedrooms and two bathrooms, where lime-washed brick walls are joined by plastered surfaces and timber flooring.
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Wu highlighted the design’s tactile approach: “Walls were stripped to brick, with a lime-plaster wash applied to emphasize texture and shadows throughout the day. Radiata Pine boards add a warm glow, while dark cork boards in the garden room contrast with sunlight for depth.”
Externally, the home maintains its traditional front facade, enhanced by a new timber fence and storage. Polysmiths, founded by Wu in 2017, continues to redefine spaces, drawing inspiration from diverse sources, exemplified by their previous projects in Wanstead and Tufnell Park.
The photography, capturing the nuanced interplay of materials and light, is by Lorenzo Zandri.
Source: dezeen.com
Frequently asked questions
What design solution did Polysmiths apply to Pine House?
Polysmiths introduced a double-height void at the heart of Pine House to optimize natural light, addressing the constraints of the Victorian terrace’s narrow layout.
What materials were used in the Pine House renovation?
The renovation used lime-plastered brickwork, timber boards, and cork panels. Lime-washed brick, timber-lined walls, and cork board ceilings were featured in the central space.
How does the renovation enhance natural light in Pine House?
The renovation centers around a double-height void, which allows light to flood from above, enhancing the kitchen and living areas. Strategic placement of southern windows also optimizes natural light penetration.