Project: Waghorn Street House
Architecture: Emil Eve Architects
Location: London, United Kingdom
Year: 2021
Photo credits: Nick Dearden
Presentation text: Emil Eve Architects
“We asked for a calm, airy house filled with natural light, with lots of built-in storage and generous entertaining spaces, using as many natural materials as possible. We got exactly that, but somehow the house is also so much more.
It is such a joy to live in and, over half a year after moving in, we still notice brilliant little details every day that make us smile, a testament to the care and attention that Emil Eve lavished on our home.”
The extension and refurbishment of this four-bed house delivers spaces which feel intimate yet expansive, with custom-built joinery throughout designed by the Emil Eve. Sustainable Douglas fir forms the exposed timber structure, exterior cladding, interior joinery and fittings, creating a cohesive palette inside and out.
On the ground floor, a piano room leads through a small inset courtyard to the generous kitchen and dining space which looks out onto a walled back garden. The rear extension is splayed to maximise solar orientation. Tall glazed doors and deep-framed timber windows direct natural light throughout the day and create view lines through and across the house.
In the courtyard, a concealed mirror between cladding slats visibly extends the exterior space and reflects light deep into the plan. Upstairs, a zinc clad roof extension creates a bright new bedroom with en suite.
Natural materials bring warmth and a sense of calm to the home, which was designed for a young couple (and their two beloved pet cats). The breathable lime plaster walls give a soft texture to the changing light throughout the day, and earthy terracotta tiles in the back garden complement the colour and grain of the Douglas fir.
Close collaboration between the architects and builder allowed for refined detailing in the exposed timber structure, cladding and joinery. The bespoke crafted elements include an extra- deep window seat that curves along the full length of a wall to form an extended dining bench and the glazed screen wall which connects the piano room to the hall and stairs.
Sustainability was a guiding principle for the Waghorn Street House, with a focus on low embodied carbon materials and breathable construction.
