W House

Location: London

Brick Manufacturer: Forterra PLC

Brick Name: Cradley Smooth Buff

Architect: Bureau de Change

Brickwork Contractor: Property DMR

W House is a full refurbishment and extension of a late Victorian semi-detached house in Fulham. Interventions were carefully sculpted throughout the house to create better visual connections and improve the flow both horizontally across each floor as well as vertically throughout the house.

The new volume at the rear of the house was inspired by a series of pre-fabricated moulding details found in a historical joinery catalogue from a local craftsman who operated in the area during the Victorian times. Those three-dimensional mouldings have been re-interpreted using six brick specials and have resulted in a volume that is folded on the larger scale but also has intricate folding details in the smaller scale. The pattern that emerged by rotating or mirroring the bricks created a sense of movement and texture visible from every angle. The bespoke brickwork is complemented by folded glazing which wraps around both sides of the extension to create a 180-degree perspective when inside the house.

The journey through the different rooms was considered from the moment of entering the house. A gradient of colour defines the path, starting from the dark blue entrance illuminated by the front door’s original stained glass windows and from a dramatic cut above; part of the first floor has been removed to create a double height void that connects the two floors and celebrates the original features found around the upper floor ceilings and windows in an unexpected way.

The dark entrance leads into a desaturated kitchen with textural stone finishes and a bespoke sculptural island. The kitchen was brought to the front of the house, an underused and often forgotten space. Triple-glazed windows and tall planting allow for a high degree of sound insulation and visual privacy from the busy street.

Off the kitchen is a lighter dining area, which finally steps down to a bright, minimal extension with expansive views to the landscaped garden. A faceted stainless steel volume echoes the lines of the extension and forms the core of the ground floor, connecting these spaces while cleverly concealing the WC and additional storage. The hard lines and metallic finish of the central volume that binds the living spaces together are softened by the surrounding Victorian ceiling enrichments, warm flooring materials and subtle reflections of the garden.

These playful moves continue on the upper levels of the house, guided up a Klein-blue inspired staircase. A curved partial-height partition hugs a freestanding bathtub in the primary bedroom, clad in textured tiles. Full-height internal glazing in the front guest room overlooks the double-height entrance area, creating an unexpectedly bright nook.

Original features of the house have been restored and highlighted in the design. In the entrance, Victorian tiling and stained glass windows define the dark colour palette, while in the kitchen and dining areas, elaborate ceiling mouldings have been revived with high gloss paint. Throughout the house, timber floorboards have been uncovered and restored.