Hasta La Ideas

Walls of books fold around a wooden staircase in this renovation and extension to a north London home by Hackney studio Platform 5 Architects.

“A key part of the brief was to house the client’s extensive collection of books,” Platform 5‘s Patrick Michell told Dezeen. “We proposed a double-height library wrapped around a stair.”

The oak bookcases stagger up around the edge of the stairwell, finishing at a first-floor study space that cantilevers out over the room below. “The dramatic space was perfect for a small desk perched off the landing, with views to the floor below and out through the window,” said Michell.

Platform 5 Architects also added an extension to the kitchen, doubling the size of the space to accommodate a new dining area with an exposed brick wall.

“We used exposed brickwork in the extension to link the room with the garden by continuing the garden wall into the interior,” said Michell. “London stock brick is an essential part of the character of the city and it forms a beautiful backdrop to a domestic interior.”

The zinc-clad extension gives the rear of the house a new elevation with a large glass door and L-shaped window seat.

Wooden ceiling beams run along the length of the extension and create modular shelves along the top of the new brick wall.

A kitchen island counter is made from exposed concrete, which the architects also used for the surface of the floor. “The robust finish sits comfortably with the muted tones and texture of the exposed brickwork and oak,” explained Michell.

London-based Platform 5 Architects was founded in 2006 and is headed up by Michell and partner Peter Allen. Previous projects include a modest glass extension to a house in Dalston.

Other residential extensions to complete recently include a dark brick extension near Lille and a rooftop addition in California.

See more residential extensions on Dezeen »

Photography is by Alan Williams.

Here’s some more text from Platform 5:

The owners were keen to introduce contemporary interventions to create modern living spaces, while retaining and highlighting the Arts & Crafts influenced decorative aspects of the original house. A key element to the brief was the need to house an extensive book collection.

A simple palette of oak, brick and concrete were used on the interior to link the different spaces and built in furniture was designed to create stage sets for domestic life.

Above: ground floor plan

The main feature is a double height library built around a staircase at the heart of the house where oak panels and shelves lined with books create an intimate atmosphere. The stepped arrangement of the shelves mimics the stairs to give a sense of upward movement through the space, while at the top a small study has been incorporated into the landing; a peaceful area to work, overlooking the ground floor.

Above: first floor plan

To the rear, a new kitchen side extension was built by resting a zinc-clad oak structure onto the party wall. Timber spars diffuse light from above, and create a series of niches against the wall. The existing rear elevation has been remodelled, with a large pivot door and a sitting area with slide-away corner glazing overlooking the garden.

Above: long section – click above for larger image

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Designed in Hackney: it’s week four in our celebration of design from the London borough of Hackney and today’s featured project is a modest glass extension to a house in Dalston by Shoreditch-based architects Platform 5.

Located at the back of the house, a glass roof and wall project out from the side of a renovated kitchen and bridge across to a brick garden wall.

On sunny days the glass wall can pivot open, connecting the kitchen and small dining area to a terrace with the same concrete floor.

A glass structure also extends through the existing brick walls on the other side of the kitchen, creating an oriel window that houses a chunky wooden daybed.

The project was completed at the end of 2007 and was named best new extension in London at New London Architecture’s Don’t Move, Improve! awards in 2009.

Platform 5 Architects were founded in 2006 and are headed up by partners Patrick Michell and Peter Allen. Their offices are located on Waterson Street in Shoreditch.

Key:

Blue = designers
Red = architects
Yellow = brands

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Designed in Hackney is a Dezeen initiative to showcase world-class architecture and design created in the borough, which is one of the five host boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as being home to Dezeen’s offices. We’ll publish buildings, interiors and objects that have been designed in Hackney each day until the games this summer.

More information and details of how to get involved can be found at www.designedinhackney.com.

Photography is by Alan Williams.