Phillips Tracey replaces a derelict London dental surgery with a simple brick house

A brick wall conceals the majority of this two-storey house that Phillips Tracey Architects has slotted between a pair of heritage-listed buildings in south London (+ slideshow).

Previously the site of a derelict dental surgery, the Lansdowne Gardens property follows the form of the original building – creating the illusion of a one-storey structure from street level.

“From the pavement the house appears as a single-storey pavilion,” explained Brendan Tracey, director of Surrey-based Phillips Tracey Architects. “Its true nature as a two-storey structure is only revealed beyond the entrance, which is set into the restored boundary wall.”

Aiming to fit in with the surroundings, Phillips Tracey opted for yellow-toned brickwork similar to the walls of the neighbouring Georgian buildings, but of a slightly lighter hue.

“The striking brickwork complements the surrounding environment, while allowing the house to offer an outstanding contemporary presence,” said Tracey. “The relatively light yellow colouring offers a gentle tonal contrast with the darker brick of the older buildings to either side.”

A black door partway along the wall provides an entrance to the property. From here, residents either enter through a second door, or walk around to a pair of multi-level terraces on one side.

Large expanses of glazing create views between the terraces and the living spaces within. There is also a large window framed in black aluminium on the other side of the building – showcasing an oak staircase that connects the ground floor to the basement level.

Polished concrete flooring runs throughout the property, while the walls – with the exception of a concrete wall within the master bedroom – are plastered and whitewashed.

On the ground floor, the main living area leads out onto the paved courtyard.

A dining area connects the living space and kitchen, which can be hidden behind folding doors to allow the area to function as a “simple, minimalistic space for entertainment and relaxation”.

On the basement level, bedrooms are offset from the oak-panelled hallway, and each have access to decked outdoor spaces.

“The bedrooms occupy a series of deep lightwells, which allow large levels of natural light to enter the lower level and dispel any impression of being in a typical basement,” Tracey explained.

While the master bedroom has an en-suite shower room, a large family bathroom with a wooden sink and grey tiled walls serves the rest of the house.

Other recently completed residential projects in south London include a pale brickwork extension to an end-of-terrace by Tsuruta Architects and a five-bedroom house with walls of opaque glass by Ian McChesney.

Photography is by Jack Hobhouse.

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