Up, down and in-between
Poets Corner
A small glass infill unlocks a compact terrace around a sunken kitchen in the Poets Corner conservation area in Brixton
When we came on board, Kirsten and Felix had been working with another architect and were in a difficult place. They’d been landed with a design that didn’t work for them and which had been refused planning permission. It was time for a fresh pair of eyes, a proper conversation, and a complete rethink.
There were many issues in their existing house that we couldn’t wait to grapple with. Each floor of the house felt very separate, with the main relaxation area completely segregated from the kitchen – the sociable heart of the home. And the garden was a waste of a precious resource. It was almost completely out of sight and difficult to access.
There were many issues in their existing house that we couldn’t wait to grapple with. Each floor of the house felt very separate, with the main relaxation area completely segregated from the kitchen – the sociable heart of the home. And the garden was a waste of a precious resource. It was almost completely out of sight and difficult to access.
We thought long and hard about the right way forward, and while there were a few obvious possibilities – one of which would have involved fully opening up the rear reception room and creating a central staircase – we eventually arrived at a less costly, less disruptive, but even more rewarding, design.
We kept the existing staircase to the lower-ground floor and opened up just enough to create a generous work-from-home spot. Now the spaces flow easily from one to another, and the kitchen and dining area have become the brightly lit heart of the home. There’s easy access to the garden, laundry and hang-out space, and an all-important visual connection to the floor above.
The traditional journey down a tight Victorian staircase now conceals the surprise that lies beyond. By continuing the oak shelving through a gap in the ceiling to the reading room above, we’ve reinforced the flow between spaces and the feeling of connection. Now the frameless glass ceiling of the kitchen reaches up to flood the dining space with light.
Kirsten and Felix can’t quite how believe how much more connected they feel as a family – and how much better it works when friends come round. But at the same time, the house gives each of them the privacy they need. They particularly appreciate each having a separate spot to work – while still being able to call out for a cup of tea!
Best of all, the whole house is now pulling its weight. Every room is a pleasure to be in, and the previously forgotten garden now draws the eye and is part of everyday life. In short, their home now gives them exactly what they need, and they couldn’t be happier.
