A darkish grey armadillo-shell roof peeks out from behind a row of terraced homes on Station Lodge, a south-west London residence designed by native structure studio Lacey & Saltykov.
Named after its location overlooking Merton's Motspur Park railway station, the home was constructed for co-founder Andrei Saltykov's family and has been 'future-proofed' with a design that may enable it to be subdivided sooner or later.
Twice the scale of the neighboring properties, with a complete space of 280 sq. meters, the architect designed the home to observe the geometry of its triangular-shaped plot – a former row of previous garages.
The atrium-like residing space was positioned on the entrance of the positioning, whereas the bedrooms and roof terraces overlook the railway line on the rear. These had been clad in darkish exterior partitions to cover mud from passing trains and cut back upkeep.
In accordance with Saltykov, the intention was to create a shared area that was as “visually placing as potential” and to compensate for the lack of an unimaginable view from the household's front room of their previous residence.
“The outside of the home doesn't reveal a lot,” Saltykov stated. “However inside the primary area is extraordinary. Whereas the home is gigantic, it nonetheless feels home and doesn't overwhelm.”
The triple-height front room is capped by a pitched steel roof with standing seams that sails over each the first-floor bedrooms and a second-floor residence workplace that opens onto a solar deck.
When considered from the within, the roof construction is uncovered, revealing its 'advanced' geometry and its Douglas fir and metal building, designed in collaboration with London-based structural engineers Foster Constructions.
The residing space additionally has a 'steady' bookcase operating across the partitions and a utilitarian crimson staircase resulting in the primary flooring bedrooms. They had been designed with heavy blocks and slanted home windows to cut back noise from the practice line.
The close by railway was referenced in different areas of the design, with reclaimed timber sleepers repurposed as driveway paving and tree planters within the entrance backyard. Precast concrete panels from the previous garages on the positioning had been additionally reused to construct a brand new fence alongside the sting of the railway.
Adjoining to the roof-level workplace area is one other residing space with entry to a south-facing terrace, guarded by a wolf sculpture produced from recycled supplies by native artist Kevin Herlihy. In addition to an out of doors eating terrace, there are two small gardens tucked away on the again, one for adults and one for youngsters.
The bedrooms designed for Saltykov's two daughters are an identical, making a extra “equitable” association than their previous residence, the place the rooms had been completely different sizes and styles. There may be additionally extra space for them to check and a “dresser” for his or her associates to come back go to.
With an eye fixed to the longer term, the architect has 'proofed' the home with companies akin to plumbing and drainage factors included for 2 separate homes. Foundations for a second staircase have already been laid.
This implies it could sooner or later be cut up into two separate properties, both for his daughters or if the household decides to promote.
Different London properties lately featured on Dezeen embrace a Polysmiths mission with structural arches and a residence with a darkish patinated copper roof by Jason Good Structure.
Picture by Will Pryce.