SIEGHART HOUSE

Holland Villas Road, London, UK

The site of the Sieghart house is extraordinary. Within a large, secluded garden in central London, it is remote from the noise and bustle of the city, and is not overlooked by neighbours. The house was designed to be open to the garden with expansive views. The garden has now matured, climbing plants cover the walls and the house sits comfortably in its setting.

It is a Victorian studio house which has been re-built and extended. The main feature of the south elevation is a glass room with a terrace above, overhung by ancient apple trees. The glazing is framed in bronze that has naturally patinated with age. Doors and windows are made of oak and bronze and have integral lighting which illuminates this elevation at night. The kitchen, bathrooms, and fitted furniture were designed by us for the house.

The Sieghart Garden House is a guest house built at the opposite end of the garden. It was designed to resemble a garden shed so as not to compete with the main house. It is constructed using green oak portal frames, externally clad in feather edge boarding, with a cedar shingle roof. The plan is kinked to reduce the apparent size of the building which in fact contains a studio, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom with a glass ceiling giving views of the treetops.

The project was designed and constructed in 1997 for William Sieghart. Over the years the bronze and glass elevation was removed to make way for the construction of additional bedrooms. It was transported to Northamptonshire and re-erected as part of a house within an C18th walled garden.