In Praise of Shadows

As the sun moves through the sky, the interior of this contemporary home is in constant flux. A glass roof running along the full width of the rear extension creates an intricate interplay of light and shadow, its delicate fins mitigating sun-glare while animating the room’s pared back interior. Along the back, a floor-to-ceiling window is intersected by a horizontal band of black zinc and slender glazing bars, providing clear views of the garden and forming the ‘T’ shape from which the house derives its name.

The rest of the Victorian terraced house was stripped back and refurbished to accommodate the needs of the client’s growing family. Original mouldings such as cornicing, architraves and skirting were matched and reintroduced, alongside contemporary fixtures and fittings. In the front reception room, fitted joinery was installed, including a bespoke study nook ideal for home working. Throughout, the colour palette shifts from dark, moody blues and deep greens in its more traditional rooms to neutral, luminous shades in the modern spaces; oak floors provide continuity across the ground floor.

We transformed the upper floors with a series of interventions, which includes a frameless picture window offering panoramic views over the Clapham skyline. A generous roof terrace was installed, designed for balmy summer evenings, adjacent to a speakeasy-style bar for rooftop sundowners.