This Grade II listed terraced house is characterised by a distinctive butterfly roof, unique to Georgian townhouses. An inversion of the standard roof form, it consists of two surfaces sloping downward towards the centre, evoking the shape of a butterfly’s wings.
The building, which dates back to the 1840s, was originally conceived as a four-storey townhouse. During its lifetime, it has been combined with a neighbouring property before being separated into flats, and then unsympathetically returned to a single dwelling. Our brief was to create a new chapter for this building’s story: to sensitively reconfigure and refurbish it into a family home for two lawyers and their young children.
Retaining the character of the listed house was extremely important to us, as was ensuring that the contemporary additions were compatible with the existing architecture while maximising the available space. An honest palette of natural materials includes oak, microcement and stone, creating a restrained, cohesive design that celebrates the building’s light and airy spaces.
Turning to nearby terraced houses for reference, we were able to faithfully re-cast cornices, architraves and skirting details. Contemporary joinery sits in deliberate contrast with these historic mouldings, its simplicity amplifying the richness of the period detailing. A pewter dining table provides the inspiration for the chimney breast on the opposing wall, coated in a metallic blue-grey plaster finish, allowing the children to pin their drawings on the fireplace with magnets.
Over time, the butterfly roof’s splayed structure had pushed the building’s walls outward, meaning that the ceilings were starting to bow. As part of the refurbishment works, we stabilised and secured the property. Its fourth chapter now safeguards its future for generations to come.
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Dezeen, Leibel