Transforming a Victorian Warehouse into a Contemporary Home

Triangle House, designed by the London-based practice Child Graddon Lewis, is an exemplary refurbishment and extension of a small, disused office in Kentish Town, London. The project transforms a previously gloomy, underutilized space into a naturally lit, three-storey residential home. Embracing the site’s triangular footprint and historical context, the architects created a design that optimizes both space efficiency and natural daylight, ensuring a seamless blend of functionality and contemporary aesthetics.

Smart Spatial Design for Urban Living

The home adopts a split-level internal arrangement, with a higher front level and a lower rear level. This approach allows for thoughtful spatial distribution and maximizes usable area. A south-east facing private roof terrace sits just below the roofline, providing an intimate outdoor retreat. At the front, a semi-enclosed courtyard functions as a winter garden and welcoming entrance, offering privacy from the street while also serving as practical cycle storage.

The open-plan ground floor combines the kitchen and living spaces, illuminated by daylight from a large glazed roof at the front and a secondary skylight at the rear. The first and second floors accommodate three bedrooms, all exceeding London Plan standards, complete with en suite bathrooms. A central stair core elegantly connects all levels, culminating at the rooftop terrace.

Architectural Character and Context

Triangle House respects the historic character of Kentish Town while asserting its own contemporary identity. The facade features Kingston Ebony brickwork with dark grey mortar, providing a monolithic and modern finish. Subtle references to the neighboring Victorian factory building, once home to Claudius Ash & Co., are woven into the design through dental soldier brick detailing, vertical and recessed brick placement, and window panel arrangements.

The anthracite-painted entrance and pilasters highlight key entry points, while zinc cladding at the circulation zone harmoniously transitions the building from traditional to contemporary. Every material choice reflects sensitivity to the conservation area while emphasizing modern residential design.

Materiality and Detailing

The architects carefully considered the industrial heritage of the surrounding buildings. The Kingston Ebony brick was selected for its crisp, flat aesthetic, enhancing the large industrial window proportions and allowing subtle articulation across the facade. The zinc cladding and split-level plan ensure that the contemporary extension complements the existing Victorian warehouse, creating a visually cohesive yet modern addition.

Triangle House stands as a thoughtful example of urban residential refurbishment, where careful attention to context, light, and materiality transforms a constrained infill site into a functional and elegant home.

All photographs are works of  Anthony Coleman