De Rosee Sa

Blue House

Blue House
© Alexander James Photography

BLUE HOUSE

De Rosee Sa

ARCHITECTS
De Rosee Sa

BUILDING CONTROL INSPECTOR
Head Projects Building Control

MANUFACTURERS
Bros, Bifolding Door Factory, Ibstock

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Form Structural Design

AREA
168 M²

YEAR
2015

LOCATION
London, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

Dartmouth Park is a district of north London in the London Borough of Camden, on the slope of the hill that rises up to Highgate from Kentish Town. On its west side, it borders Parliament Hill Fields, notable for its views of the London skyline.

Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography

The clients owned the upper maisonette and had lived there for several years. When their downstairs neighbour decided to leave, they were able to agree the purchase of the ground floor flat and appoint architects, De Rosee Sa, to re-instate the building back to its original arrangement as a three-storey townhouse.

There were a few challenges; primarily how to increase the proportions to give the house a sense of grandeur and generosity of space.

Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography

The first priority was to tackle a low floor to ceiling height on the ground floor, made more difficult by an unsympathetic level change between the front and rear of the building.

De Rosee Sa overcame this by moving the level change further towards the front, using the front as a cloakroom area, framing the bay window with tongue and groove cupboards either side and a window bench.

The extra height gained in the middle of the ground floor facilitated the proportions to locate the kitchen in the middle, with an adjacent dining area.

Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography

The living room is located towards the rear, with a Defra Approved wood burning stove and new glazing towards the garden.

A long skylight brings lights deep into the plan. Joinery around the fireplace gives the living area additional detail and atmosphere.

The extension into the rear garden was rebuilt and widened to match the depth and shape of the neighbouring roof pitch but using Blue Staffordshire brick to give it a more contemporary treatment with crisp architectural details.

Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography

A glass sliding door and window seat under a large window addresses the new patio and garden. Cava limestone was used for the patio and steps up to the lawn area. De Rosee Sa also designed the western red cedar clad garden sheds.


Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography
Blue House
© Alexander James Photography


Blue House
Elevation
Blue House
Section


Blue House
Ground Floor Plan
Blue House
1st Floor Plan
Blue House
2nd Floor Plan

De Rosee Sa
T +44 20 72215495
De Rosee Sa
87 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JZ, United Kingdom