Hampstead Garden Suburb
A discreet loft oasis.
Extremely desirable Hampstead Garden Suburb in north London exemplifies the Garden City movement, founded in the early 20th century by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and planner Sir Raymond Unwin. Characterized by the Arts and Crafts architectural style, not one but two local authorities preside over the area, the London Borough of Barnet, and The Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust. Both authorities must give consent to development. Design guidlines are rigid, but clear.
The brief called for the conversion of a loft, within which space was extremely limited.
In another Studio Lavan & OGA collaboration, the response was ingenious spaceplanning, and a simple, uncluttered palette, with subtle but tight grains to maximise the sense of space. Innovative structure was designed to counteract new loads placed on the collar roof.
Image Copyright Studio Lavan
Liaison with the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust limited the number of apertures to two small, conservation rooflights, largely invisible from neighbouring properties, and fully invisible to the public realm.
Joinery conceals personal items throughout with no cubic centimetre of space wasted.
The restful, neutral natural materials contrast with highly worked fittings in polished bronze.
The design was an exercise in the the optimisation of resources in an extremely restrictive spatial and legislative context.
