{"id":752059,"date":"2024-09-25T08:19:05","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T07:19:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=752059"},"modified":"2024-09-25T12:34:58","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T11:34:58","slug":"case-study-elemental-house-by-archmongers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/case-study-elemental-house-by-archmongers","title":{"rendered":"Case study: Elemental House by Archmongers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Elemental House is the remodelling of a 1970s split-level house in Hackney. The renovation has future-proofed the home for modern living, enhancing its energy efficiency, while bringing natural light deep into the plan.<\/p>\n

Archmongers\u2019 approach is underpinned by a commitment to using honest, exposed materials and traditional wood joinery, ideal for upgrading existing UK housing stock to meet contemporary needs while minimising long-term maintenance. The design scheme employs a simple palette of existing materials, including brick, galvanised steel, cast concrete and timber.<\/span><\/p>\n

By extending the ground floor and converting the garage, each space has been made more generous. A new concrete extension, cast in-situ at the rear of the property, opens up the house laterally, creating a more generous kitchen and dining space at lower level.<\/p>\n

The insulated slab provides thermal insulation and creates a new garden terrace, which acts as part of the structural foundation and helps spread the load of the existing and new fa\u00e7ades. The scheme unlocks the building\u2019s three floors to make the house feel more spatially vertical. Plasterboard walls have been removed to reveal the logic of the house\u2019s structure and make its elements legible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Johan Hybschmann, founding partner, Archmongers<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Project data<\/b><\/h3>\n

Start on site <\/b>January 2023
\nCompletion <\/b>January 2024
\nGross internal floor area <\/b>120m2<\/sup>
\nConstruction cost <\/b>\u00a3390,000
\nConstruction cost per m2<\/sup> <\/b>\u00a33,250
\nArchitect <\/b>Archmongers
\nClient <\/b>Anita Freeman and Johan Hybschmann
\nStructural engineer <\/b>Fosters Structures
\nPrincipal designer <\/b>Archmongers
\nApproved building inspector <\/b>Integral BC Solutions
\nMain contractor<\/b> Millimetre Construction<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Architect\u2019s choices<\/b><\/h3>\n

The existing property and its utilitarian materials informed the palette, and we were also inspired by examples of northern European Modernism, specifically Wohlert\u2019s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Finn Juhl\u2019s house in Ordrup, Arne Jacobsen\u2019s S\u00f8holm houses and Aalto\u2019s homes in Finland. Most of our favorite products were used, many of which we have specified in other projects: Vola taps, Ketley floor tiles and D-Line AJ handles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Casting the extension thinly was a structural challenge that we wanted to test out: it suited the project and illustrates our commitment to using honest, exposed materials that are immediately legible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The kitchen combines highly crafted Douglas fir cabinets and a stainless steel kitchen island set against a whitewashed lightly rendered brick wall surface.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Johan Hybschmann, founding partner, Archmongers<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Specification<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

The specifications were made on quality and design merit. We prioritised durability and longevity in each of the elements and fixtures were chosen to be as timeless and high-quality as possible. Our ambition was to build on the qualities of the existing house, enhancing what was there so that it ages beautifully over time. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Untouched since the 1970s, the house retains its original structural integrity, featuring robust masonry, timber framework and exposed concrete elements. The materials palette is limited to lightly rendered brick, whitewashed walls, galvanised steel, concrete and softwood joinery, so that there is a seamlessness between the existing structure and new interventions. Pops of red accents in the exposed steel beams, columns and handrails are complemented by the terracotta tiles of the lower floor.<\/p>\n

The joinery includes softwood for banisters, handrails, living room shelving and built-in tables, and a hardwood \u2013 iroko \u2013 for the front door, vent panel and handrail details.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Johan Hybschmann, founding partner, Archmongers<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Selected products<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Ironmongery<\/b>
\nD-Line
\nAJ handles and Kay Fisker handles
\nand fittings
\nAll internal doors and front door
\ndline.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Sliding door
\n<\/b>Maxlight
\nSliding door, anodised
\nKitchen
\nmaxlight.co.uk<\/a>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Floor tiles<\/b>
\n<\/i>Ketley
\nStaffordshire quarry tiles
\nGround floor
\nketley-brick.co.uk<\/a>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Taps and bathroom fixtures
\n<\/b>Vola
\nChrome
\nBathrooms and kitchen
\nvola.com<\/a>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Kitchen island
\n<\/b>Alpes Inox
\nStainless steel, bespoke sizing
\nKitchen
\nalpesinox.com<\/a>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Kitchen full-height units<\/b>
\n<\/i>Jacob Alexander Studio
\nBespoke design by Archmongers. Douglas fir timber and veneer
\nKitchen
\njacob-alexander.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Elemental House is the remodelling of a 1970s split-level house in Hackney. The renovation has future-proofed the home for modern living, enhancing its energy efficiency, while bringing natural light deep into the plan. Archmongers\u2019 approach is underpinned by a commitment to using honest, exposed materials and traditional wood joinery, ideal for upgrading existing UK housing …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":752141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[721],"tags":[98104,5699,2606,1310,4937],"yoast_head":"\nCase study: Elemental House by Archmongers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Archmongers has remodelled a 1970s split-level house in Hackney, making each space more generous while enhancing energy efficiency. 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