1920s London Home Transformed: Step Inside This Extraordinary House!

A home in the north London area, originally built in the 1920s, has been revitalized. Previously a dark and disjointed residence burdened by numerous ill-planned extensions, it has been redesigned by Mulroy Architects into a luminous and versatile living space known as No Ordinary House. This project represents a thoughtful partnership between the architects and the homeowners, aiming to enhance both well-being and warmth.

Homeowners Nichola and Stanton, instead of focusing on the existing issues, envisioned the untapped potential of the property. Nichola, who runs the interior and spatial design studio No Ordinary House, was attracted to the underlying structure of the home—its vast potential hidden under inefficient layouts and obstructed lighting. With their two teenage sons in mind, and foreseeing a need for a more flexible living space, the couple collaborated with Mulroy Architects to fashion a home that could evolve with their family’s needs while fostering tranquility and a seamless connection to the outdoor garden.

Mulroy Architects’ design strategy centered around the concept of openness, aimed at eliminating both physical and metaphorical barriers. The reconfiguration of the ground floor was planned around two main visual axes: one extending from the front door straight to the garden and another ascending through a newly installed galleried staircase which invites ample natural light into the core of the home. Drawing inspiration from Horace Gifford’s airy East Coast beach houses, the new layout emphasizes fluidity and transparency, integrating everyday living with continuous views of the garden and the sky.

The suggestion of adding a basement was met with a challenge from Mulroy to consider its purpose, not just its addition. The outcome is a dynamic social space that combines a gym, a screening room, and a bar, all opening onto a sunken courtyard that merges indoor and outdoor environments. This basement is designed with “social sustainability” in mind, offering the potential to transform into a separate apartment suitable for extended family living as needs change.

On the upper floors, adaptability is key. The redesigned loft provides private, autonomous bedrooms for the nearly independent sons, while the middle floors host versatile family areas that can adjust to shifting life stages. The use of natural materials, focus on durability, and warmth throughout reflect Nichola’s design philosophy, which seeks to integrate the built environment with natural elements.

Central to the home is a striking double-height courtyard garden, featuring a living wall that introduces biophilic elements into the dwelling. This vertical garden serves not only as a visual focal point but also as an environmental enhancement, improving air quality, supporting biodiversity, and softening the modern aesthetic of the home.

Mulroy Architects have also incorporated sustainable technologies such as solar panels, advanced insulation, and optimized natural lighting and ventilation to ensure that the home is not only energy-efficient but also comfortable. These enhancements have significantly improved the home’s energy performance, demonstrating the firm’s dedication to creating “big, green architecture” that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.