Bureau de Change has renovated a conventional terraced house in the north of London, emphasizing the use of brick. Katerina Dionysopoulou, co-founder of the studio, explains: “Using the bricks recovered from the fabric of the house, we got a more sculptural expression”. The standard layout has been turned upside down, with the kitchen taking its new place at the front of the house, an often underused and forgotten space. The original features of the house have been retained, emphasized by dark colors and textured tones. Spaces take place in a sequence that goes from darkness to light, intensifying the luminous and voluminous sensation of the addition. In the center, the dining room is characterized by a change in the treatment of the floor: narrow wooden planks with junctions aligned transition between the smooth cement of the kitchen and the coarse-grained concrete of the extension. A well of light ensures that the full depth of the floor is bright and offers a moment of pause inside. Here, where the faceted glass meets the stepped brick, the geometry of the concept is accentuated.

“We worked closely with structural engineers to create a completely column-free space”,  explains co-founder Billy Mavropoulos. “The structure was constructed using laser-cut double-beam beams that give the impression that the addition of both floating bricks. This concept has been integrated into the design in collaboration with the engineers from the beginning - working hand in hand to create the appearance of a first floor cashed in extension”.