Cascade House

Situated in the heart of Hampstead Village, our proposal for this once rambling 18th century listed building was developed with local conservation authorities to respect the picturesque setting of the High Street and Perrin’s Court. As a result the external appearance harmonises with the historic setting, whereas the interior by contrast enabled us to design a series of bright and contemporary spaces enhanced with bespoke joinery and panelling.

Characterised by small and dark rooms, the original entrance led visitors through a warren of windowless stairs and corridors before arriving at the second floor living space. One of the key interventions of the project was the alteration of the circulation, relocating the staircase within a new triple height space which now runs for a large part of the building’s depth and reorganises the house around a central focus, driving light deep inside. The continuous fall of the black stained staircase within this dramatically tall space has given the dwelling its new name, Cascade House.

The staircase is flooded with natural light through large skylights and has a deep-grain textured internal façade of timber panels, imbuing tactile and theatrical qualities to the entrance volume that turn the journey through the dwelling into a welcome experience. These timber panels clad the entire three storey wall and fuse with the architectural elements; framing the internal window, concealing a hidden door, recessing accent lighting and appearing flush with exposed linear lights.

We developed a series of test panels specifically designed and manufactured for this project using different timbers, stains and levels of sandblasting. It is this sandblasting that emphasises the texture and, when positioned beneath the two large rooflights, reflects and absorbs light in a way that highlights the natural grain and gently shifts as you walk by. The high level of finish achieved throughout the project was possible due to the clients’ close involvement and their commitment to craftsmanship and bespoke design. A series of bespoke panelling and joinery items serve as a continuation of the design, weaving their way through and linking the extension with the existing building.

Patalab Architecture

Windows: Velfac
Flooring: Kährs
Sanitary ware: Duravit
Tiling: Domus
Kitchen: Neil Lerner
Bespoke timber panelling: Parry Page Projects
Ironmongery: Williams Ironmongery