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Collection by Ian Spula

This Dramatic London Renovation Boasts a Five-Story Bookcase

The London town house of a former British politican undergoes a total rebirth. Today its Victorian facade hides a sophisticated modernist plan and a towering library structure with 330 linear feet of books.

Overcrowded by books and roundly dilapidated, the onetime home of late Labor Party leader Michael Foot received a modern gut renovation and expansion by SHH Architects. Books still hold down the fort but are regulated by the architecture. “All the facades and layouts of houses in this area have the same recipe,” says project lead Stuart McLauchlan. Rather than give the visitor what she expects of a century-old Victorian town house—a formal entrance hall with staircase—the rebuild delivers a pleasantly surprising view from the front door straight through to the extension and tree line beyond.

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The extension is a two-story light box focused on the garden level, sunken below the front entry but at-grade with the backyard. The open dining area features a sliding, glazed curtain wall system framed in black aluminum, a timber framed seating nook, polished concrete flooring, and a custom dining table designed by McLauchlan.
The extension is a two-story light box focused on the garden level, sunken below the front entry but at-grade with the backyard. The open dining area features a sliding, glazed curtain wall system framed in black aluminum, a timber framed seating nook, polished concrete flooring, and a custom dining table designed by McLauchlan.
The kitchen, Bulthaup island, and overhanging entrance-level comprise the remainder of the extension. A five-story double-sided, weld-free aluminum bookcase begins in the kitchen and rises through the lounge. A staircase traces every inch of it so that material can be readily accessed.
The kitchen, Bulthaup island, and overhanging entrance-level comprise the remainder of the extension. A five-story double-sided, weld-free aluminum bookcase begins in the kitchen and rises through the lounge. A staircase traces every inch of it so that material can be readily accessed.
The stairs roll out into the kitchen and dining areas. The individual steps are steel trays dipped in orange liquid rubber, to squeaky effect.
The stairs roll out into the kitchen and dining areas. The individual steps are steel trays dipped in orange liquid rubber, to squeaky effect.
This cross-section of stairwell and library structure creates a shard of light for rooms on every level. At nighttime, LED bulbs under the handrails emit a glow.
This cross-section of stairwell and library structure creates a shard of light for rooms on every level. At nighttime, LED bulbs under the handrails emit a glow.
Reaching for the skylight, the five-story staircase is met at the top by the custom bookcase. The skylight opens and closes automatically in response to temperature and weather. This integrated structure is the spine of the house, off of which all other spaces are arranged.
Reaching for the skylight, the five-story staircase is met at the top by the custom bookcase. The skylight opens and closes automatically in response to temperature and weather. This integrated structure is the spine of the house, off of which all other spaces are arranged.
The lounge at the back of the entrance level exhibits the wide plank flooring common throughout the house. The view through the windows is made more compelling by the strip of green roofing extending the treetop canopy and the glass curtain wall that climbs just high enough to draw a sightline to the patio.
The lounge at the back of the entrance level exhibits the wide plank flooring common throughout the house. The view through the windows is made more compelling by the strip of green roofing extending the treetop canopy and the glass curtain wall that climbs just high enough to draw a sightline to the patio.
Looking back on the home from the concrete patio, its verticality becomes apparent. The zinc, cedar, and glass extension erupts from the base of the old brick envelope—diminutive but disruptive.
Looking back on the home from the concrete patio, its verticality becomes apparent. The zinc, cedar, and glass extension erupts from the base of the old brick envelope—diminutive but disruptive.