Brown Urbanism . photos: © Richard Brown
A triangular, self build 40m2 home built within the confines of a former mechanics garage in West Hampstead.
The tricky triangular conversion makes a space that is both small in plan and generous in volume; both private from the street yet open and expansive in its interior outlook: By carefully lifting ceiling heights, excavating additional space below ground and creating an external courtyard at its centre. A simple single storey structure was devised, set within the former brick outer structure – divided into two open living spaces and an enclosed bathroom block, all set around an external enclosed courtyard garden.
Large bifold gates open from the street into a secluded entrance courtyard, serving as both entrance, garden and ornament viewed through large aluminium framed glazed doors and windows from the internal living spaces on split levels. The central living space is an open plan multifunctional triangular room lit by a large centred roof light above, a cosy triangular seat at the acute corner and looks out the street through an inverted bay window, screened for privacy with tall bamboo grasses. A long diagonal axis leads through to the tall second living space down a series of skewed steps. A sliding bed can be pulled in and out of pocket below the adjacent shower room and WC. Tall cupboards to one side can be opened to reveal an enclosed permanent workspace complete with table, stool and computer monitor. At the rear is a brick bathroom and enclosed WC. The materials palette references the prior use as mechanic’s garage and Coach House – with brindle quarry tiles throughout and painted brick enclosures – softed with Birch plywood linings and Boucle Upholstery.
The external brick is left in its rough existing state – built up on with new hand made London stock brick.
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