Architecture and Interior Design: VATRAA
Website: www.vatraa.com
Contact: anamaria@vatraa.com; 07378378833

The project turns an 80 sqm ex-council house situated in South London into a home with a distinctive character, now proud to tell its story through space, light and materials.

We saw the constraints of the tight budget and the dull nature of the original structure as a catalyst for practical, creative solutions. To reduce the construction cost, we acted almost like a surgeon, first investigating the existing structure to remove the unnecessary parts only while keeping any new additions to a minimum. As a result, the building was stripped to its essentials.

The original structural joists are now exposed to resurrect the spirit of the old house, bringing authenticity and time into the design. By opening up the entrance lobby to the pitched roof, a tall volume now occupies the core of the house, making a tight space feel grand and inviting.

To keep the focus on the qualities of space, light and textures, we limited the finishes spectrum to only three, complementary materials. White painted ceiling joists, and whitewashed oak flooring are tied together by a plaster finish that reacts in the presence of natural light. The solid oak furniture completes the composition through warm textures and crafted details.

Sustainability did not come with artificial measures but with practical solutions that gave a new life to a disregarded building. The result demonstrates that, if fully embraced, the constraints and specifics of the project can lead to surprising solutions grounded in the actual context we operate in.

The project was shortlisted for Home Transformation of the Year at British Home Awards 2020.