Nimtim Architects

Fruit Box House

Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor

FRUIT BOX HOUSE

Nimtim architects

ARCHITECTS
Nimtim Architects

MANUFACTURERS
Glazing Vision, AJ &D Chapelhow, DTile, EasySpray, Forbo

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Magic Projects

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Blue Engineering

PHOTOGRAPHS
Megan Taylor

YEAR
2021

LOCATION
London, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Houses, Renovation

The clients wanted to transform their home into a durable and adaptable home for their growing family. The house was typical of mid-century townhouses with living spaces on the first floor and a poor connection to the garden.

It also lacked a large bedroom with only a number of smaller rooms on the 2nd floor. The brief was to create a new family space at ground level with a better connection to the garden plus a bedroom suite on the first floor.

Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor
Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor

The house sat on a triangular plot with a large but awkwardly shaped garden. The terrace had been built in the 1970s in a former orchard - (common in SE London which was a significant producer of fruit and vegetables until well into the 20th Century).

There were a number of very old fruit trees that still produced blossom in the Spring and fruits in the autumn and larger trees beyond that shielded views to and from houses behind.

We wanted to celebrate the sense of living amongst fruit trees and below the canopy of the larger trees beyond. On the ground floor, views are framed with carefully positioned openings that connect the ground floor in a deliberate but restrained way.

Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor
Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor
Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor

By contrast, the first-floor bedroom has a wide and generous window that brings the landscape and canopy into the house. A lack of support for changes from the local authority necessitated a solution that could be achieved through permitted development.

The ground floor was therefore extended to the rear and side. This approach also required the use of the same materials and window types as the existing house.

We perceived this as an opportunity rather than a restriction: yellow stock bricks were laid on-edge below ground and above ceiling height to give a sense of horizontality to the additions and differentiating the additions from the original house.

Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor
Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor
Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor

The openings at the ground referenced the existing house but were placed with a deliberate rhythm on rear and side elevations.

The new family living spaces needed to be open, flexible, and robust. As ever, we wanted to minimise the use of steel and concrete.

The extensions, therefore, use timber structure exposed internally to provide a hard-wearing internal finish and a gentle, humane scale within the space. The timber structure forms semi-open screens within the open space to define different areas for work, play or rest.

Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor
Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor
Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor

The structural timber and ply form a backdrop that is visually and acoustically warm. A simple white ceramic tile defines the kitchen island and worktop. The floor is a triangulated composition of linoleum grey and blue linoleum that contrasts with the rectilinear grid of timber structure.

This triangular pattern will eventually inform the garden landscaping, helping to deal resolve the awkward topography of the garden and providing further contrast with the geometry of the house.

The house is now home to a 2 and 5-year-old and provides a playful and suitably robust backdrop to family life. The articulation of spaces has come into its own during lockdown allowing different activities to occur throughout the house without disruption.

Fruit Box House
© Megan Taylor


Fruit Box House
Elevations
Fruit Box House
Front elevation


Fruit Box House
Ground floor plan
Fruit Box House
First floor plan
Fruit Box House
Second floor plan
Fruit Box House
Section


Fruit Box House
Exploded axonometric diagram

Nimtim Architects
T +44 20 8693 0878
Nimtim Architects
A - The Old Stable House, Unit 4, 53-55 North Cross Road London, SE22 9ET, UK