A carefully detailed timber staircase articulates a Victorian villa in north London reworked by Alexander Martin Architects
Alexander Martin Architects has completed the refurbishment and two-storey rear extension of a Victorian semi-detached villa in Islington, north London. Located within the Barnsbury Conservation Area, the existing house had been subdivided into two flats and contained an awkward rear ‘closet wing’ extension. Through a series of careful interventions, the architect has reconfigured the internal circulation and opened up the full width of the house at the rear to provide a generous, light-filled living/dining space that reconnects with the garden.
A bespoke timber staircase links the three floors and provides a central focus at the heart of the interior. Painted an earthy terracotta colour in reference to the clients’ collection of tribal iconography, the stair sets the visual tone for the rest of the house. A slatted alder wood balustrade doubles as a screen and is intended to provide a sense of continuity across the floor levels. The vertical slats are spaced and proportioned to create a strongly defined rhythm that accentuates the pitch and angles of the stair. Made from plywood, the treads and risers are clad in dark engineered timber to match the floors.
Ground-floor plan and axonometric section
By carefully reconfiguring the levels in the existing closet wing extension, the architect has carved out a double-height ‘gallery’ over the dining area. The newly elevated vantage point also frames views from the half-landing of the stair through to the garden. Black lacquered kitchen units with copper fittings are designed to complement the terracotta-coloured stair and dark engineered timber floors, as well as provide a rich backdrop for the clients’ mix of contemporary, mid-century and antique furnishings.
Externally, the new extension on the ground floor retains a similar pitched roof form to the existing structure. Large, minimally framed glazing units are designed to unite the rear elevation, creating a more coherent composition. The extension projects out further on the lower-ground floor, creating space for a TV room and terrace balcony overlooking the re-landscaped sunken garden. London stock bricks, glass, and slate have been used to complement the materiality of the original house, while the perimeter of the terrace is wrapped in a band of natural sandstone to form a strong datum.
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