Kew House by Piercy & Company in South-West London.

The leafy and wealthy area of Kew, in South-West London, has a confident new statement building that is a sharp contrast to its traditional – and oh, so regular – brick and slate neighbours. Kew House was completed in January 2014 and has been gradually gaining attention and recognition for it’s design excellence in a conservation area, this including being shortlisted for the prestigious 2015 RIBA House of the Year Award. It would seem safe to say that this project encapsulates the idea of creative housing design and it is not hard to see what all the fuss is about.

Piercy & Company pride themselves on an approach that is not pre-conceived. Each project is considered individually with its own specific client requirements and all ideas are rigorously explored. Alongside this philosophy, a love of the experimental is a constant and underlying theme of all their work and Kew House is the perfect example of this.

In this case the client was a fairly unique one – a Structural Engineer and a Boat Restorer who also took on the role of main contractor while the project was on site. The outcome of a thorough design process resulted in what is in essence two strong, weathered steel volumes connected by the more delicate glazed circulation space. This all sits behind the retained masonry facade of a nineteenth century stable, the shape of which is reflected in the basic form of the newly constructed elements. There is a beautiful attention to detail to the building as a whole, a result of carefully considered junctions but also the pre-fabrication aspect of the project which allowed for a craftsmanship approach and quality. The bold material palette laughs in the face of convention, but simultaneously offers a rustic charm that mimics the autumn hues of the nearby Botanical Gardens.

The site was a constrained one which created the opportunity for the layout to embrace a courtyard concept forming the focal point of the house. Living spaces are split between the separate wings of the building, encouraging movement and allowing natural light to flood the space. As the building is a specially tailored home, the arrangement of rooms reflects the needs of the family and how they go about their daily lives – there is even a boat building space to the basement! This large subterranean space also came in quite useful during the construction phase, becoming a temporary joinery workshop allowing for the on site manufacturing of bespoke items.

Playfully positioned roof lights create a connection to the external world, and in areas are intertwined with perforations to the external steel shell which create stunning and ever-changing lighting effects internally. In a contrast to the external, interior finishes take on a much softer and tactile approach, with the introduction of warm timbers and elegant panelling concealing room entrances and cabinetry.

Piercy & Company have managed to tick all the boxes with this offering. Not only have they produced a building that excels in the execution of its refined details and consideration of chosen materials, ultimately they have created a space that perfectly meets the owners needs whilst responding beautifully to its surrounding context.

[Photography by Jack Hobhouse.]