Archetech - Issue 20 [Page 74]
Vaulted House
Vaulted House is a new-build four-bedroom family house,
located on an infill site, hidden behind a garage door in
Hammersmith. It was previously a diesel contaminated taxi
garage, surrounded by 11 party walls and overlooked by
24 neighbours. A series of sharply detailed vaulted roofs
define different living zones on the open upper-ground floor.
Roof-lights at the top of each vault flood the landlocked
site with daylight. Large courtyards bring light into the
bedrooms on the lower-ground floor. The roofs are covered
in a striking chequered pattern of single-ply membrane. The
vault geometry repeats in details of the house, including the
fireplace, floors, windows and entrance.
A double-height den has access to the garden at the back
for the children to play in. A separate study provides acoustic
privacy with a view through to the living space. A big doublesliding pocket door opens up completely, turning the dining
room into a loggia in the summer.
Several of the 24 neighbours included active members of
the Brackenbury Residents’ Association. Detailed residents’
consultations and the incorporation of their feedback into
the design led to seven letters of support for the scheme at
planning.