The Double Glazed House

Location: London

Brick Manufacturer: HG Matthews

Brick Name: Handmade - mixture of standard bullnose and bespoke shapes with bespoke glaze

Architect: Between Art and Technology Studio

Brickwork Contractor: Ascalon Building Services

This project is an ambitious extension and renovation of a large Victorian house in north-east London, designed by Between Art and Technology Studio. Named 'The Double Glazed House', the project explores the tactile and expressive potential of handmade glazed brickwork, drawing a dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary detailing.

At the heart of the design is a striking green-glazed brick mass, produced in collaboration with HG Matthews. A mix of full bricks and brick slips was used, with every detail carefully considered to ensure material continuity and precision. The green volume has been conceived as a monolithic form into which openings have been carved - a singular expression articulated through rigorous alignment and meticulous construction.

All vertical surfaces are organised according to orientation: the north and south facing elevations are stack bonded, while the east and west elevations are laid in stretcher bond. The ceiling has also been treated with the same attention to pattern and proportion, lined with custom brick slips cut to the footprint of a brick’s base and applied in a continuous stack bond.

A particularly innovative element is the use of 50mm bullnose bricks to round every corner, a gesture that softens the form while highlighting its sculptural intent. To achieve the curved returns on the soffits, a suspended brick system, more commonly used in large-scale commercial settings, was employed to hang full bricks upside down.

Nearly all surfaces make use of standard bullnose variations, but a few highly specific conditions called for the development of bespoke elements. Between Art and Technology Studio responded by leveraging their in-house workshop and digital fabrication expertise, designing and producing custom moulds with 3D-printed inserts to cast the necessary specials.

The design steps carefully away from the existing house, retaining the first-floor outrigger, which is supported on slender yellow steel legs. Special care was taken to preserve the characterful Victorian brickwork and its accumulated patina, ensuring the new extension stands not in contrast, but in conversation with the original building fabric.

The collaboration between Between Art and Technology Studio and HG Matthews builds on a longstanding working relationship, forged through the development of previous bespoke brickwork projects. The Double Glazed House is a culmination of this shared commitment to craft, innovation, and material expression.