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Now this is something special...
Located on Kings College Road in Belsize Park is this exceptional detached five bedroom family home, with a striking architectural design and superlative energy performance. It is on the market for £3,900,000 with Dexters.
Designed by leading practice Thomson Lavers Architects and nominated for a RIBA Award, the unique home encapsulates the very best of leafy Belsize Park living, with dramatic double height living spaces maximising views of its quiet surroundings.
Set over three floors, the 2,427 sq. ft. home offers flexible accommodation, ideal for family life, or potentially as an artist’s studio to capitalise on the abundance of natural light.
Founded in 2003, Thomson Lavers Architects is led by Andrew Thomson and Lucy Lavers, whose experience includes working for Foster and Partners, Michael Hopkins Architects and Jeremy Dixon Architects; past projects include working on Lord Foster’s personal South of France residence, Imperial College and Glyndebourne Opera House.
The design brief for Kings College Road was for a modern, high performance family home, with planning restrictions limiting the height above ground; from the street, the result appears as single storey.
Focusing on compact geometry with double height spaces, the home is clad in weathered copper, chosen for its lightweight construction and durability, giving a timeless appearance.
Thomson Lavers cleverly designed the home over first, ground and lower ground floors with the combination of split-level spaces and large double glazed aluminium windows and sliding doors creating bright, airy spaces. Using simulation technology, the architects finetuned the balance of materials to maximise natural light in every room whilst optimising the energy performance of the home.
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Andrew Thomson says, “The site had strict height restrictions for building a new home and it came with existing planning consent for a newbuild home, but it was to have a significant portion underground, probably quite a gloomy result and not suitable for modern family life.”
“The site had wonderful trees around it, and our design set to capture these both with beautiful vistas through the glass walls and for harnessing the natural light. We were inspired by dappled woodland light and how this cascades through spaces.”
“The house has a cubed upper structure which has very lightweight construction. It’s clad in copper which is a very durable material, with a brown roof which requires less maintenance than a traditional green roof. The challenge was balancing the right amount of glass for natural light, not letting the property overheat and maximising energy efficiency.”
The ground floor of Kings College Road is the heart of the home, comprising an open-plan reception and dining room, with 4.8m high ceilings and a glass wall, with a sliding door opening onto a side terrace for indoor outdoor living.
It leads onto a stylish Italian kitchen with integrated Neff and Siemens appliances and matt white handle-less units for a sleek finish. There is also a cosy snug, currently styled as a study, set back from the main living space but still part of the home’s flow.
The lower ground floor has two guest bedrooms, each with fitted storage, a further study which opens onto a tranquil courtyard, and a family bathroom. The principal bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with twin sinks, bathtub and a mirrored wall, leading onto a sauna and adjoining utility room.
Although below ground, the architectural design means each room is light-filled and peaceful. Up a modern glass and wooden staircase, the first floor provides a further two bedrooms.
The home has a multitude of eco-friendly touches for convenience. The high-quality construction materials and extensive insulation keep the home very warm year-long, alongside underfloor heating and a comfort heat Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MHRV) whole house ventilation system. There is also a rain water collection system.
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Says Thomson, “We simulated the sun’s exact movements throughout the day to finetune this balance. When you look out from the large windows and glass walls you’re looking onto beautiful foliage and greenery, the house is sheltered and private yet with a fantastic connection to nature.
“The earth sheltered portion of the home works as thermal mass to soak up warmth throughout the day. We focused on highly insulated spaces and their functionality and then how to bring light down into this space through light wells. When you walk the lower portion of the home you don’t feel like you’re underground at all.
“The key to the home’s design is the behind-the-scenes calculations which took time to perfect. People walk the space and everything works perfectly – the light, the acoustics, the flow of the space, it comes together naturally.
The geometry of the space is very simple and kept as unobtrusive as possible. The soundscape of the home is also very important. With open windows, the surrounding trees dampen any noise and it’s very peaceful, an important factor for anyone living in London. But with the windows closed its intimate and resonant. It works whether it is the noise of busy family life or a grown-up dinner party, the space is balanced throughout.
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“The client wanted one large living space as the focal heart of the home, with visual pockets of space off this. Picture a parent cooking lunch in the kitchen, a child watching tv, maybe another child drawing at the table and a parent in the study – all acoustically connected but enjoying their own space, a really great atmosphere. The result is a very connected family home without being on top of each other.”
“The restrictions on London sites are extraordinary and they continue to grow, limiting design. Good design figures out how to still capitalise on a site’s unique spot without being dragged down by limitations. As architects we have to transform spaces into something that works for planners but also gives a great house with longevity, it’s not just a tick box exercise you have to really picture how people will live in the space.”
Kings College Road is in close proximity to Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage and Primrose Hill for enjoying luxury boutique shopping, thriving cafes and eateries and leisure opportunities. It is a six minute walk from Swiss Cottage (Jubilee Line) and 14 minutes from Belsize Park (Northern Line).
The property is available for £3,900,000 (freehold). For further information please contact DEXTERS Hampstead on +44 (0)20 7433 0273 or visit www.dexters.co.uk.
