Threshold House

Threshold House sits within a Conservation Area in north London and is part of a row of Victorian terrace houses. The dwelling accommodates a family of five, however the house was dark and not ideal for family life. The north-facing kitchen was isolated at the rear, away from the dining room and living areas. A breakfast table could not be accommodated in the existing kitchen. The living room had too many openings and was difficult to plan. Our clients needed a family area that worked hard in the limited space available but was also welcoming and bright to accommodate the ebbs and flows of family life.

YSA manipulated both the plan and the section to create a new extension that draws light into the middle of the house. The south-facing living room has a projecting bay window and this borrowed light can be enjoyed by the whole house. The living room is now a welcoming focal point at the front of the house.

YSA considered the circulation through the house and formed a large opening adjacent to the stairs. We chose to increase the width of the door to ensure that when moving through the house one can feel the entire width of this modern intervention. The doorway draws the user in and gives a hierarchy of travel. YSA changed also the circulation to facilitate a ground floor cloakroom which the house did not have before. The house now feels a lot bigger as the space has been used throughout.

The intermediary threshold space between the dining room and kitchen area captures a piece of sky in an unexpected way, creating a different atmosphere and moment of pause; a space within a space. This enables a different atmosphere and experience. The existing boundary condition allowed the level of roof lights to be set high and the kitchen area feels generous as a result.

Other interventions included taking out a chimney breast in the kitchen and study above to allow greater flexibility. This increased the usable space by approximately two square metres in each room.

YSA introduced a limited palette of natural materials such as slate around the fire, oak floorboards and door linings, and black doors and kitchen fronts. The materials flow outside to the new terrace area that will be used far more as it leads off from the kitchen and increases the views through the house through two sets of glass doors. The circulation draws the eye through the garden and specially selected planting.

YSA also created an outdoor room at the rear of the garden using the backdrop of an existing ancient brick wall. The seating area engages with the wall under a pergola and catches the evening sun. The light reflects into the house and the Shou-Sugi-Ban-clad elevation has a darkened backdrop to the garden when looking back on the house. The garden beds have been articulated in a way to draw the eye to the rear of the garden.

Threshold House feels much more like a family home that is warm and inviting with unexpected vignettes throughout.