The partitions of this extension to a post-war terraced home in north London had been made out of interlocking clay blocks that native agency THISS Studio left uncovered to create a heat and textural end.
THISS Studio was requested to design a rear extension for the home, situated close to Butterfield Inexperienced in Stoke Newington, and to reconfigure the bottom ground to enhance its reference to the backyard.
The shoppers’ request for a sustainable resolution led the architects to discover alternate options to standard development strategies.
Mission architect Dan Hope’s analysis prompted the choice to make use of Porotherm blocks as the primary constructing materials.
The extruded clay blocks characteristic interlocking profiles that create structural partitions when stacked. They’re extra sometimes utilized in large-scale business developments as a direct alternative for concrete blocks.
Within the Butterfield undertaking, the uncovered blocks complement the brickwork of the Seventies constructing and introduce a sexy textural factor to the brand new eating space.
“The Porotherm blocks, made out of pure clay, have a heat, earthy tone that we needed to have a good time inside the inside,” THISS Studio cofounder Sash Scott instructed Dezeen.
“Their inherent texture and materials honesty turned a key affect on the area’s visible character.”
The multi-cellular blocks present a number of environmental advantages that assist fulfil the undertaking’s transient, together with wonderful thermal efficiency that removes the necessity for added insulation.
The clay materials has a low stage of embodied carbon and is recyclable on the finish of its life. The development methodology additionally doesn’t require vertical mortar, which helped to cut back the undertaking’s total materials utilization.
The extension’s easy, sturdy type echoes the character of the postwar terrace, with bespoke tiles minimize from the Porotherm blocks including an ornamental element to the in any other case minimal garden-facing elevation.
“We aimed to enhance the architectural language of the property whereas sustaining an financial system of supplies and development strategies, permitting us to realize a high-quality end that displays a sustainable, materially aware strategy to constructing,” stated Scott.
Ten houses the place uncovered brickwork creates textured interiors
The inner materials palette was chosen to enhance the clay blocks, with inexpensive, available supplies used for the flooring, joinery and uncovered structural components.
A deep pink marmoleum ground offers a heat background for the area, which is unified by the constant use of pure pine finishes throughout the inner window frames, joinery and custom-built roof trusses.
The extension options loads of glazing that enables pure gentle to penetrate deep into the plan, whereas additionally creating a way of connection between the dwelling areas and the backyard.
“Butterfield is a helpful case research for us in exploring learn how to construct smarter and extra sustainably by adapting supplies and applied sciences sometimes utilized in different constructing typologies,” Scott added.
“The extension not solely supplied much-needed area but additionally resulted in a house that feels heat and materially delicate – complementing the prevailing construction whereas supporting a wholesome, engaged way of life with the supplies that form it.”
THISS Studio is a crew of architects led by Scott and his fellow co-founder, Tamsin Hanke. The apply goals to problem conventions of buildings, objects and landscapes all through work that mixes curiosity with technical functionality.
The studio’s earlier initiatives embrace an workplace inside designed utilizing reclaimed supplies and one other extension with a curved aluminium roof that resembles a fried egg.
The images is by Henry Woide.
