Follow a row of terrace houses in London’s Notting Hill and at the end is Heartwood. From the street, the residence appears indistinguishable from its neighbors, but the preserved facade belies the gut renovation within. Architecture firm Knox Bhavan approached the renovation from the inside out: the interior of the previously dilapidated residence was completely rebuilt all while maintaining the building’s original exterior facade. The new interior alleviates the heaviness and verticality of the structure, inserting natural light to celebrate the quiet moments of the home.
From the street, the roughly 2,000-square-foot, 4-story brick building was primarily preserved save for the shopfront portion of the front entrance, which now incorporates three sash windows framed in light oak joinery and a large front door made of vertical oak panels. These new elements are met with a subtle steel canopy and new cast-concrete steps, a warm yet modern introduction to the home.
Fergus Knox, director at Knox Bhavan, shared in a statement, “Guided by a love of materials and simplicity of form, we focused on crafting spaces that feel connected, robust, and built to last. Finishes are pared back, with oak used throughout for warmth and continuity.”
Faced with a collapsed rear wall, failing roof, and uneven floor levels, Knox Bhavan gutted the interior to create a more open plan that unfolds through stages of light courtesy of a new staircase. Conceived as the structure’s spine, the lightweight steel staircase was coated in white and its slightly curved oak treads meet open risers, all interwoven with delicate banisters. The stair organizes the spatial orientation, as it allows natural light to seep into the core from a skylight overhead, and marks the deeper footprint of the bottom floors, where more skylights hang above a basement kitchen.
Minimal furnishings ensure this lightness takes center stage. In the entrance wooden floors continue through to a sitting room, bathed in light from its bay window, to a quiet library encased with custom shelves. The horizontal pattern of the shelves continues to the ceiling where it meets exposed Douglas-fir joists. The library features a mezzanine with a glass balustrade that overlooks a 2-story void and basement kitchen.
The kitchen is small and compact, but still makes space for resting. Hanging off of the mezzanine are custom steel lights with perforated shades designed by Knox Bhavan, strategically placed over a built-in oak bench. The white-coated industrial lights float above the space like a discreet street light. Behind the bench is a narrow horizontal strip of mirrors on the wall, making the space feel grander. This decorative accent is met with the stainless steel countertops and slender oak floating shelves.
Four bedrooms lie throughout the remaining upper floors. On these floors, simplicity continues in both the sleeping areas and bathrooms. Built-in oak veneered storage continues from the library to the bedroom wardrobes. Sliding doors and new sash windows further create cozy atmospheres. Custom oak joinery appears again in the bathrooms as backsplashes, paired with Corian countertops. The minimalist design lends a low-maintenance appeal.
The whole house runs entirely on electricity generated from solar panels found on the roof’s existing parapet. The team also included an air source heat pump, creating an efficient source for heating and cooling. Through light and a subdued material palette Knox Bhavan managed to deliver a light and airy space where it is only natural to pause and exhale from the bustling city.