A remarkable new house created on an awkwardly shaped piece of backland in a conservation area in Barnes, SW London was, in 2001, the first recipient of the RIBA Manser Medal. Because the land-use designation for the site was employment-related, the architect realised that a live/work property was the only solution to gain planning approval. Party line restrictions and the site width were other problems to resolve, in particular where to place the windows. The solution: high-level windows under a curved roof creating a contemporary house within a conservation area, demonstrating that viable design solutions can be created with the positive assistance of enlightened planners. The house, of steel frame construction so that room layouts can be altered with minimum trouble and expense is not large: 252m2 (2712 sq ft) including a double garage and three terraces- one at first floor level and two at roof level. It has four bedrooms, some of which can be used as workspaces as well as two bathrooms and a large studio on the first floor. The curved ceiling is aspen- panelled and the floors in all rooms are natural oak laminate. The house is designed to be energy efficient with 200mm insulation to the roof, which is covered in durable aluminium with an applied pattern replicating the colour of the patinated copper. All the windows are timber framed and double –glazed and those on the ground floor have laminated glazing for safety and security. |
