A Mews House in London Is Built Head-to-Toe With Timber Hauled In By Hand

July 22, 2022

A Mews House in London Is Built Head-to-Toe With Timber Hauled In By Hand

Situated on a pedestrian alley, the serene homestead architect Russell Jones designed for his family was a true labor of love.

Project Details:

Location: London, United Kingdom

Architect: Russell Jones

Builder: TAD Builders & D. F. Keane

Structural Engineer: Techniker

Joinery: Barth Innenausbau & K & D Joinery Ltd

Bespoke Furniture: Andy Thompson Woodwork / @andythompsonwoodwork

Lighting: LIT Design

Landscape Design: Bill Ridings, Anna Janschke

Photographer: Rory Gardiner / @arorygardiner

From the Architect: "This family home and studio in the London Borough of Haringey is located on a 200-square-meter site, which was previously an old garage and rear garden of an adjoining house and only accessible via a narrow passageway. The local planning authority was keen that the project reflected its less formal backland location. Statutory set back requirements and exposure on four sides impacted the design, while limited access influenced materials selections and construction methods—all had to be of proportions and weight that could be carried or trolleyed by hand into the mews.

"The completed home, arranged over four slightly separated levels, follows the natural slope of the site. All spaces are organized around a 20-meter-long axis, starting at the front door and running through to the rear boundary. The entrance volume comprises two bedrooms, circulation, and bathroom. Beyond, and slightly lower than the entrance, an informal living, dining, and galley kitchen open out onto a terrace toward a walled rear garden. A lower ground level studio, directly below the entrance, receives light from the front façade above. The primary bedroom and bathroom are on the topmost level, and a glazed stairwell brings light into the interior.

"The timber frame construction is faced in brickwork where it is meets a boundary, and remaining exterior cladding is from Siberian larch. Douglas fir lines all interior surfaces and is also used for fenestration framing and shutters. All timber is from sustainable sources and is capped with stainless steel to control exterior weathering. All roofs are covered in lightweight Lipari pumice stone to aid drainage and reflect heat. Furniture, including desks, beds, shelves, cupboards, and doors, are made from the same Douglas fir boards as the interior lining. In contrast, the kitchen work surfaces, bathrooms, low tables, and niches are surfaced with matte white porcelain. The front forecourt, paved in reclaimed granite cobblestones, matches the mews carriageway.

The context, planning process, and hardships involved in creating this project are typical of building in London. The finished home, although a product of this reality, is also a refuge. It is relaxed, informal, and a constant reminder of the lives and character of its occupants."