Architects: Studio Indigo
Project: Blue House
Location: London, W11, United Kingdom
Photography: Andrew Beasley
Situated on the edge of a leafy garden square in Holland park, the Blue House is a Grade II listed Georgian, four storey, end of terrace house. Although almost in a state of ruin, the house had undeniable potential and Studio indigo set about resurrecting it to its former glory.
It had the characteristics of an archetypal London Georgian property – constructed of typical London stock brick on a stucco ground floor, with sash windows and a butterfly roof concealed behind a parapet wall.
The Blue house had been divided into two flats with the upper unit knocked through to the adjoining house. Many of the original internal architectural features had been lost and replaced with pseudo gothic features. The original details which did remain were heavily damaged or obscured by many layers of paint work.
The original layout remained largely intact apart from the addition of an unsightly rear 1970’s ‘modern style’ extension and some minor modifications to the lower ground floor.
The architectural challenge was to adapt the original layout with respect to its architectural heritage, whilst embracing contemporary living and maximising space in an exceptionally narrow house. Studio Indigo utilised clean lines and capitalise on the natural light while embracing open plan living. This gave an increased perception of space and created a tranquil interior, at one with nature.
The architectural details were restored and in some cases, recreated. A contemporary glass ‘box’ extension was added to the rear, providing additional lateral living space and an abundance of natural light. This minimal glazed extension allowed the original and newly restored rear facade to be clearly seen from the garden.
The interior style is bold and vibrant in character, an eclectic mix of old and new, raw yet refined, mirroring the client’s exquisite taste. The colour blue, a favourite of the client, runs throughout the house as a unifying theme, varying in tone and shade from room to room.
The project has been a joy to work on, with the restored home now an elegant and graceful reflection of the client’s life and lifestyle.
