The Sponge
Queens Park, London
The Sponge is a reimagined traditional Victorian terrace in Northwest London, with the main pleasure in the project being working with the clients to create the perfect setting for two lives to come together, not as a sum of spaces and tastes, but as a new and unexpected whole. The name is inspired by the deliberate design intention of puncturing the house as much as possible with windows, skylights and glass, allowing natural daylight to penetrate deep within. The home's design inspiration came from the clients' interests and cultural heritage, resulting in an in-depth investigation of eastern and southern Asian architecture and its influence on contemporary architecture. The design needed a vital clarity of contrast between planes and volumes to achieve this particular feel to the interior. The interior plasters were tested, with off-the-shelf plaster selected to seal and leave exposed, in contrast to the dark stained oak floor finish and matching joinery,
The property had been used for several years as two separate flats, and then joined again: different sets of meters remained lingering in every corner, the finishes were completely random and very tired, and the layouts were completely dysfunctional: a sink appeared in unexpected places, the only access to the garden was through a tiny malfunctioning side door.
During our first conversations with our clients, we realised our ideas about quality of life aligned: natural light, relationship to the garden, airy and deep spaces with complexity and narrative. We decided on a strategy based on lightboxes clustered around the ground floor open space and bringing light from the outside. One box would be the entrance, with double heights and a roof light at the very top, the second was in the middle of the ground floor, bringing light down to the basement, the third would be a new glazed rear extension.
We worked hard with contractor and subcontractors to keep the costs under control and the construction on time. Tropical fish are one of the client’s passions, so we incorporated a beautiful triangular fish tank under the stairs to the basement. Cooking is also a shared hobby, so we designed a generous kitchen that integrates comfortably in the overall joinery design.
This project is an experiment on a shift of scale: from a house composed of floors to a narrative whole. Rather than stacking uses on separate floors as almost separate parts of the house, uses are imagined as more flexible throughout floors. The circulation areas merge into one another and the living spaces through small double height spaces.
The scheme has extended the original dwelling into the basement, side, rear and roof of the property. This additional space has made it possible to rethink the historic circulation, preferring a more fluid layout to achieve an exciting experience of movement through the building. Side and rear extensions are clad in dark stained marine plywood, with dark stained hardwood window and door frames. Below ground level, walls, paving, and stairs are all clad in stacked black bricks.
The basement and ground floor are interconnected open-plan spaces directly related to the garden. Sliding doors, changes in levels and slatted screens have replaced partitions, doors and corridors to provide a fluid space with varying degrees of separation and privacy. Long convex joinery walls model the space at both levels, incorporating the services areas, storage and kitchen units. A curling steel stair encased in a slatted wooden box gives access to the basement. The stair is enclosed into a loose wooden box that resembles an atrium, illuminated from above, and floating on a large fish tank at basement level. The stair and box are located in the middle of the ground floor, serving as a direct connection between the two stories and a light source. In addition, the wooden box acts as a perforated screen between the front sitting room and the rear open plan kitchen and dining areas.
The result is a very welcoming space to meet people or enjoy quiet days. In addition, the joinery and a wooden enclosure of the stair to the basement carve out better-defined areas and snugs. The lightboxes are filled with plants, and the giant fish tank provides a relaxing mood to the basement. A&B often work from home and can choose among many levels of privacy and different light and noise conditions throughout the house.
"We chose Davide unhesitatingly to be our architect after he described a vision utterly different to other Victorian conversions in Queens Park, melding cultural influences, sustainability concerns and lifestyle ‘needs’ with his design. We particularly love the angled polished plaster walls, allowing light and shadows to magically change the mood in the house from day to evening, different on each level, creating literally our dream space." - B.R., 2021
Architect
Unagru Architecture Urbanism
Structural Engineer
Structures Made Easy
M & E Engineer
Will Potter Partnership
Contractor
Rimi Renovations
Joinery
Progetto 172
Photographer
Stale Eriksen
Completion year
2020
Area
170 sqm
Project budget
< £500,000
Don't Move, Improve Awards
Shortlisted
Build It Award 2021
Shortlisted
Open House Festival 2021
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