The Lime House showcases a transformation of a derelict commercial property into a light-filled four-bedroom home in South London, UK.

Cox Architects was commissioned to design the conversion of a small shop into a family home. The main challenge with this project was the limited amount of floor space given the original size of the shop, and there were additional constraints given the shop was located in a Conservation Area, meaning the design must also consider local planning controls.

Due to such constraints, the project had to be split into two phases and spanned a long and tedious period of 8 years; the loft was added in 2020 under permitted development rules.

Cox Architects worked with two owners over the course of 8 years and were fortunate enough to have both clients buy into their vision for the plot. The first owner was a property investor who built the first phase of the project and sold the home to the current homeowners, a Swiss Finance Executive and Italian lawyer with two young children. The new homeowners desired to create a viable long-term home office solution.

Tasked with this challenge, Cox Architects set out to add to the existing first phase and added the attic home office space at the top of the building. In addition to adding the attic floor, which is designed as a work and live loft, the team also upgraded the home with more sustainable features such as insulated windows and more efficient mechanical and electrical services throughout.

Working alongside the local planning authority, the architects were able to build up a new and improved facade using hydraulic lime as a key ingredient. The exterior brickwork was coated with a thin lime ‘slurry’ which gives a very matte, veil-like wash over the bare brick. To complement the limewash, the minimal framed timber windows were lightly treated with a pale wood stain to allow the character of the material to show through. This is how this modern home got its name — Lime House.

This new facade ensures the two sides facing the street offers privacy for the home’s residents and builds out the house on the sides facing inward from the street.

The exterior facade carves rectangular pockets of light at a higher height to achieve the objective of creating a light-filled space without compromising privacy.

The sides facing inward away from the street features floor to ceiling windows, inviting natural light to spill into the home office space located on the top floor of the family home. The large-format windows extend the full length of the top floor on one side, bringing in a flood of natural light into the staircase as well.

The stepped design of the building defines the ground, first, and top attic floor to give it a unique silhouette. Windows on the first floor draw light into the bedrooms but are positioned intentionally to ensure privacy.

Cox Architects have managed to provide a solution for the homeowners to maximize the floor space in a small property lot to create a cozy home that offers a modern home office solution. With the prevalence of home offices on the rise, the Lime House serves as a template design solution for others considering converting their living space to accommodate a quiet home office.

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Size: 143 m2

Site Size: 92 m2

Building Levels: 4

Completion Date: 2020

Photos by Matt Clayton