Step House in North London by Bureau de Change.

In this terrace in North London, bricks have become a sculptural device. Designed by London firm Bureau de Change, the home’s intriguing new extension has been forged from bricks reclaimed from the fabric of the house. Like a layered picture frame, the rhythmic stepping motif created by the brick is echoed throughout the interior too, and has been worked into both the plan and section of the extension.

Led by architects Katerina Dionysopoulou and Billy Mavropoulos, Bureau de Change is fond of surprising and dramatic folds, zigzags, and peaks and troughs in their subtle but artistic approach to the classic London terrace. “Instead of the more expected glass structure, we looked to the brick and its inherent potential as a stackable module to create a far more sculptural material expression,” explains Katerina. “We exploited the rights of light diagram to create a staggered, extruded form that appears to melt away from the existing structure.”

Faceted glass meets the stepped brick to create a light well—underscoring the geometry of the feature. “We worked closely with the structural engineers to create an entirely column-free space”, says Billy. “The structure was achieved using laser-cut, double-direction, stepped beams that give the sensation that the brick addition is floating.”

Inside, the standard layout has been flipped, with the kitchen taking its new place at the front of the house. The original features of the home have been retained and accentuated with dark colours and material tones. This darker mood gives way to a lighter feel as you move inward, intensifying the bright and airy feel of the extension. The dining room features narrow timber planks to distinguish from concrete elsewhere in the home.

Related: Slab House By Bureau De Change Architects.

[Images courtesy of Bureau de Change Architects. Photography by Ben Blossom.]