Structure studio Polysmiths has redesigned a basement condo in north London to really feel like a “cabin within the woods”, surrounding its sunken residing space with lush planting.
Named Walden after the novel by naturalist Henry David Thoreau, the condo in Tufnell Park required refurbishing after being left vacant and broken as a consequence of flash flooding.
By extending into the present backyard, Polysmiths created a brand new residing, eating and kitchen space and used the area freed up on the entrance of the flat for a further bed room.
The extension additionally allowed for the insertion of a collection of angled skylights and home windows trying instantly onto the backyard, maximising pure gentle whereas minimising overlooking from the condo above.
“The undertaking resolves a number of conflicting necessities, together with find out how to lengthen, insulate, flood-proof, and convey gentle right into a basement condo whereas sustaining as a lot valuable backyard space as doable,” defined Polysmiths.
Taking cues from the quantity of daylight in numerous areas of the house, the fabric and color palette of the interiors transitions from gentle within the residing areas to darkish within the bedrooms and toilet.
Mild gray wood-fibre panels line the lounge ceiling, complemented by white partitions, pale wood panelling and a glass-brick display.
Within the kitchen, darkish stained wooden has been used for the partitions and counters, whereas the toilet options black ceramic tiles and the bedrooms are painted darkish inexperienced.
“The sunshine inner finishes had been used within the public areas – front room and eating room, to verify they really feel open and brilliant, extra like a home within the woods than a typical basement condo,” founder Charles Wu informed Dezeen.
“Non-public areas – bedrooms, toilet and kitchen – are darker to supply a stage of consolation that’s cosy and quiet,” he added.
Externally, Walden has been wrapped with wood slats which are supposed to be progressively overgrown with vegetation. A set of concrete steps leads from the residing space as much as the extent of the backyard.
“Because the backyard is barely elevated, it will be significant the vegetation chosen are unfastened and skinny, with multi-stemmed semi-mature timber and brief flowering vegetation getting used all through,” stated Wu.
Polysmiths was based by Wu in 2017. The studio’s earlier initiatives embody a house with cork panelling on each the exterior and inner partitions.
Different current dwelling renovations in London embody an extension by Bureau de Change that’s knowledgeable by Victorian boxing rings and the colorful Graphic Home by Workplace S&M.
The pictures and videography are by French + Tye.
