Living reinterpreted through an artist's lens
Brückenhaus
“I was looking for a place where I could feel inspired, able to relax, to enjoy and share with others for the next 20 years.”
Simon had been particularly impressed by how we were transforming the home of his close friends, and now he knew it was time to tackle his own dysfunctional home. He’d been living in the house for many years, but it had never felt properly ‘his’. It was definitely time to do something about it.
The problems were many: the doors were too low for him to walk through, the kitchen was dark and cold, and there was no connection to his carefully tended garden.
But this wasn’t only about solving obvious problems. It was also about giving Simon a home that truly reflected his two very particular passions – functionalist architecture and expressionist art (this is where the name of the project, Brückenhaus, comes from).
This needed to be a transformational design that would kick start the next phase of his life.
Turning to Simon’s other great interest – functionalist architecture – we wanted this to be reflected in the extension. We used black bricks stacked one on top of the other to create strong vertical lines and softened this effect with the warm timber windows and timber screen.
There was one more important idea we knew would mean a lot to Simon. We moved the sauna, which was until now uninspiringly tucked away in a shed in the garden, onto the roof terrace with its wonderful views.
“…it’s amazing to be able to relax under your own personal patch of sky. And it’s not every day you get to shower outdoors in Peckham. Though, as it turns out, it is.”
Entering the house is just like stepping into a bold and sensory expressionist painting, with strong colours and unexpected moments. But at the same time, it gives Simon the sense of calm he’s looking for.
This is now a home that works for him in so many ways – when it’s just him relaxing alone but equally when he invites friends and colleagues round to sample his travel-inspired cooking.
“Ultimately, the house felt like the creation of a genuine partnership, resulting in a home that was unique to me.”
Awards
Press
Read the project feature in the Sunday Times
