One of the studio’s first completed projects that allowed us to experiment with shuttered concrete.  The project involved creating a two-bedroom house with a garage on a rather tricky L-shaped inner-city site that was deep but narrow at the front.

 

We arranged the house so that as much light as possible could be brought into the site, with living space on the top two floors that connected to a roof terrace, room for sleeping on the first floor and garage and utility space on the ground floor.

 

Together with the client we decided that concrete would be the right material approach to take offering both the structural and aesthetic properties that were required.  We were keen to expose the concrete frame in places to reveal the construction process offering a variety of patinas and textures.  Working with in-situ shuttered concrete on a constrained site and on a small project can be a challenge but we worked hard with the contractors to inspire them and help them get the detailing right. To compliment the concrete we used American Walnut for the windows that were handmade by furniture maker Simon Kidd who worked locally to the site.

 

Frame House was shortlisted for a RIBA London Regional Award in 2012 and has been published worldwide including the Independent and Wallpaper*.  It was also Highly Commended by the Concrete Society in 2012 for the quality of the concrete finish.

You can read about the project in more details here.

Client:
Private

Awards:
RIBA London Regional Award (Shortlisted)
Concrete Society 2012 Awards (Highly Commended)

Completed:
2011

Photography:
Ioana Marinescu