One of the great things about a renovation and refurb is that all the inspiration an architect could need is, more often than not, embedded within the foundations of said property. There’s a story that’s been before. A blueprint of not only what went wrong, but also what worked. There’s a history to draw from and, of course, an existing palette to maintain or edit.
For the team at Palladian, their latest Kensington revival had much to offer in terms of archives. Before its domestic presence, the building served as a tile factory in the early 20th century and during excavations, the architects seemingly struck gold.
“During the excavation for the new foundations of the house, we came across beautifully preserved tiles from the former tile factory. We felt it was important to preserve these by incorporating them in the interior to highlight the house’s former origin,” Palladian architect Hugo Lindsay-Fynn recalls.
Ensuring the London home lives up to its recently coined title of Tile House, these rescued pieces of the property’s former life are now scattered across the new floor plan. They decorate the kitchen walls, create a landmark of the entrance fireplace and add a personal touch to bespoke-made writing desks. It is a constant reminder of the past, and yet also a thoughtful way to signify the property’s new presence – a “visual bridge” as Hugo describes it.
On top of the tiles, Palladian brought other historical influences into play here; most notably of which was the Arts & Crafts movement.
Hugo explains, “we were inspired by the movement’s appreciation for brightness and nature and wanted to maximise the ingress of natural light in the house. Enhancing the living experience by maximising natural brightness was a key focus behind our design philosophy and our effort to promote a sense of well-being and harmony.”
The most obvious and direct influence from this movement can be seen in Palladian’s unapologetic prioritisation of creating gateways for natural light in the evolution of the architectural fabric of the extension. Allowing an influx of sunlight from all angles, the living hub benefits from sky-lights, an Oriel window and sliding floor-to-ceiling panes of glass that wrap around the dining table.
Not only does this mean the space sits in a pool of warming natural light for most of the day, improving the owners well-being as a result, but it also echoes the Arts & Crafts appreciation for brightness and nature.
Beyond aesthetic desires, the brief, at its core, required a space that would adapt to the needs of a young and growing family. Thus, Palladian have integrated a split-level open-plan living space to the rear of the home, cocooned within the extension.
Here, the family can cook, congregate and dine without restrictions. However, despite the intentional openness of this part of the property, careful consideration has been given to zoning; e.g the central island and integrated hob has been designed and implemented for cooking, and a dining table offers a separate space for sitting down to eat.
To unite these zones as one fluid space, Palladian use subtle architectural elements like the bespoke blonde cabinetry (built using recovered timber from London’s woodland) that threads through from the sunken kitchen to the dining space. Ultimately, moments like these promote continuity and amplify the flow from cooking to eating.
Of all the interior spaces, the kitchen is also the most materially rich. “We used a blend of man-made and natural materials, including stone and timber finishes. We carefully sourced suppliers for certain elements and details such as Granby Workshop worktops which offer a striking, marbled recycled terrazzo made with crushed recycled brick, slate and other waste materials. We also commissioned and collaborated with specialist craftspeople RHMB who built and designed the kitchen cabinetry and joinery from recovered timber from local London woodland.”
Though the extension now functions as the heart of the home, the new architectural configuration of Tile House also includes a new staircase repositioned to improve circulation, a reading nook that hides under the stairs, a master bedroom and suite, two bedrooms, a shared family bathroom and a fifth multi-purpose space that lends itself to the client’s ever-changing needs.
Project details:
Location: Kensington, London
Project Size: 279 sq. m
Architect & Interior Designer: Palladian (see more work here)
Builder & Contractor: Act Construction
Structural Engineer: Price & Myers
Lighting: Cristel Sadde
Cabinetry & Joinery: RHMB joinery
Worktop: Granby Workshop
Bathroom Wall Finishes: Tadelakt
Bespoke Coffee Table: Bibbings & Hensby
Tiles: Mosaics Tiles
AV: KNEKTD
Photographer: Tarry & Perry
Like what you see? You can discover Palladian’s portfolio here
After more home inspo? See enki’s case studies
