In the retro-fit of an Islington townhouse, Rees Architects have painstakingly polished up the past to pair original architectural features with contemporary detailing. In this constant back and forth between old and new, the London-based studio conceive a family home that celebrates the evolution of craftsmanship throughout the ages.
As a Georgian period property, this city home was draped in all the greatness you’d expect from a Grade II listed building. Think artistic cornicing and mouldings, grand marble fireplaces and ceilings that seemingly soared.
Less fortunately, but still rather typical of this generation of builds, the property also presented a rather dated floor plan. As such, Rees Architects were enlisted to confidently direct a remodel that would consider both historic preservation and modern living in equal measure.
To the eye, it would seem the majority of the work saw the Georgian trademarks of this townhouse dusted off and brought back to life. But beyond the surface level aesthetics, Rees Architects also worked on the curation of a strategical spatial plan that would have enough flex in the system to adapt to the ever-changing needs of modern life, as well as accommodating regular guest stays.
Starting from the bottom up, the basement level – which was once home to the kitchen – now plays host to the guest quarters. Here, guests have full reign of not only a bedroom and ensuite, but also their very own private lounge which comes with direct access out to the garden.
With regular guest visits expected, Rees Architects wanted this space to provide visitors with a level of privacy and autonomy that the average guest room simply can’t.
Responding to the challenging planning stipulations shackled to a Grade II listed reno, the kitchen has been hoisted up to the ground floor. Though narrow, in fact almost galley-like, the space still benefits from a central free-standing island block that sits in front of one of the original marble fireplaces.
Supplied by Buster + Punch, the rather industrial feel of the island is quickly toned down by the mitigating heritage features.
The slim profile of the worktop takes its material cue from the adjacent fireplace. With a delicate touch, marble pours over the top of the grained, chocolate-toned cabinetry before climbing the walls to create a stretched splashback that draws the eye up to the intricate cornicing that traces the perimeter of the room. Counterbalancing matte black fittings and sleek metalware lend a contemporary sensibility.
Though a great example of Rees’ restoration work, the cook space isn’t the only showcasing of original features that the team lovingly reinstated throughout the design journey. Instead, these moments of history pop throughout the plan.
As such, each room is a carefully choreographed exhibition of past with original skirtings, architraves, coving and even floorboards retained and rehabilitated to their former glory.
The experience of these indentations of history, however, does change as you move through the home. Particularly as you take to the sapphire surrounds of the library.
“Our decision to envelop the room in deep, saturated color wasn’t just aesthetic. It was about reframing how we experience Georgian architectural detail. When the plasterwork is rendered in near-black, it transforms from decorative element to pure sculpture.”
“The play of light and shadow across the ceiling rose and cornices creates an almost kinetic effect, while allowing contemporary elements like the pendant light to float in beautiful tension with the historical features,” says architect Dan Rees.
Moving up the townhouse, you’ll come across the most contemporary of the spaces as you reach the master bedroom and bathroom. Tucked up on the second floor, the sleep space makes the most of its enviable ceiling heights with built-in floor-to-ceiling cabinetry that offers ample storage and keeps clutter completely out of sight.
The bed, positioned centrally, backs onto a custom headboard that naturally separates the space from the adjoining bathroom.
Though in many ways the project plays with the experience of juxtaposition, there’s a surprising cohesiveness that’s felt throughout the build as the design team commit to a refined material language that’s shared between all spaces. All in all, this visual and textural repetition serves not only as a signature of Rees’ work, but also as a tool of union between all antithetical elements.
Project details:
Architect: Rees Architects (dig through their portfolio here)
Builder: Honed Homes
Kitchen: Buster + Punch
Photographer: Pierce Scourfield
You can find out more about Rees by clicking here.
Or if it’s more enki-approved case studies you’re after, click here.
