Heartwood End Terrace House Renovation | Knox Bhavan Architects

Nestled within the historic Colville Conservation Area of Notting Hill, Heartwood is an exemplary renovation by Knox Bhavan Architects, transforming a deteriorating end-of-terrace property into a meticulously crafted, contemporary home. Spanning 186 m², this four-bedroom residence is a harmonious blend of architectural character, sustainable design, and modern functionality, completed in 2025.

Preserving Heritage, Enhancing Functionality

From the street, Heartwood retains much of its original period façade, with a carefully renewed shopfront featuring oak joinery, three sash windows, and two slender fixed panes. Subtle cast concrete steps rise to the entrance, paired with a minimalist galvanised steel handrail and a protective canopy, ensuring both elegance and durability.

Behind the preserved exterior, the home's interior was fundamentally rebuilt. Severe structural challenges, including a collapsing rear wall, uneven floors, and a failing roof, were addressed through full excavation, basement waterproofing, floor reconstruction, and a new insulated roof membrane. These interventions created a high-performance, light-filled home within the constraints of the original footprint.

Thoughtful Interior Design

Heartwood’s interior is a carefully orchestrated sequence of open, interconnected spaces. The home’s light-filled core is anchored by a sculptural steel staircase with oak treads, which allows daylight to penetrate deep into the layout. Oak-framed bay windows, built-in seating, and bespoke shelving define intimate living areas, while a discreet study snug behind the staircase provides a library-like retreat with oak-veneered joinery and integrated LED lighting.

The lower ground floor features a rationalised layout with efficient storage and utility spaces, complemented by a compact yet highly functional kitchen. Oak bench seating, stainless steel countertops, floating shelves, and high-level mirrors enhance the sense of space, light, and practicality for modern living.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms

The upper floors house four bedrooms, each with built-in oak storage, sliding doors, and sash windows, maintaining a language of refined simplicity. Bathrooms feature Corian countertops, custom oak joinery, frameless glass showers, and micro-concrete finishes, blending durability with minimalist elegance. The master suite incorporates a freestanding sculptural bath, a floating basin, and a cylindrical shower beneath a roof oculus, demonstrating thoughtful, space-saving detailing.

Outdoor Spaces and Sustainability

A contemporary roof terrace offers a private retreat with composite decking and pebble margins, supported structurally by the study below. Heartwood runs entirely on electricity, with solar panels and a battery system storing renewable energy. An air source heat pump further enhances sustainability, showcasing Knox Bhavan’s commitment to environmentally conscious design.

Through meticulous architectural detailing, strategic spatial planning, and sensitive adaptation of historic fabric, Heartwood exemplifies how an end-of-terrace house can be transformed into a modern, sustainable, and elegant London home.

All Photographs are works of Henry Woide