Architect Visit: Herringbone House in London - Remodelista
In our DIY-enthused culture, there are some who might think they don’t require an architect’s design skills even for a ground-up construction. Zoe Chan, cofounder with Merlin Eayrs of Chan + Eayrs, stands before their design. Photograph by Thomas Giddings. Inspired by siheyuan, traditional Chinese courtyard houses, Chan, who was born in England of Chinese parents, introduced two walled courtyard rooms, one at the front and one at the back, as an effective solution for drawing light into the middle of the narrow and nonlinear site. Photograph by Thomas Giddings. The open layout means that light and air flood through the length of the house, from the front walled courtyard to the combination kitchen and dining area in the back. The courtyard turns the kitchen into an indoor/outdoor room. Photograph from The Modern House. A wall of pearl-colored bricks is effective in reflecting light. See Remodeling 101: White Tile Pattern Glossary for ways to use brick and subway tile. Cupboards with limed wood doors provide ample storage. The brick’s texture keeps the room from looking at all cold or sterile. Wall-to-wall storage in the kitchen doubles as a bench. The two courtyards–this one with built-in banquettes–ensure that light and air flow through the house. A muted palette of whites, grays, and beiges runs consistently from room to room. Photograph by Thomas Giddings. A sculptural steel stair with open risers is flooded with light from a skylight above. A view from one bedroom down the length of the house to another illustrates the effectiveness of the light-producing wall courtyards upstairs. Limed wood brings warmth into the bedrooms while reflecting light. Marble-tiled floors and above-counter sinks add an understated luxury in the master bathroom. A pedestal mirror in brass. The palette is soothing and serene. Cracked porcelain cabinet knobs introduce subtle texture to the pale palette of the bathroom. Herringbone brickwork is a classic used in a new way. Eayrs and Chan in a bedroom window. Photograph by Thomas Giddings. The floor plans detail the architects’ inventive use of the wedge-shaped site. Above L: The ground floor shows the two walled courtyard gardens at the front and back of the house. Can you Spot the Difference Between Herringbone and Chevron? This post is an update; the original ran in April 2014 as part of our Warm Minimalism issue.