Inside a 1960s Brutalist Townhouse in London That Evokes Mid-Century Brazil
As a London-based architect, Dingle Price frequently renovates Georgian and Victorian homes, so he and his Pricegore cofounder Alex Gore were particularly piqued by the opportunity to reimagine a 1960s Brutalist townhouse. It also gives a more public way of living. Photography by Johan Dehlin. Before the current building was constructed, the land was host to split-level Victorian terraced houses, so the foundation was quite deep. Dingle and Alex worked within the original confines of the structure, so the ivy-covered facade remained intact. The only exterior update was to the back garden, where Pricegore constructed an extension and collaborated with their friends at FFLO on wild, leafy landscaping. Inside, the duo opted for concrete floors and lime plaster walls. A cylindrical column accentuates the height of the space. Pricegore incorporated a circular skylight to brighten the sitting area. The adjacent kitchen pairs a concrete backsplash and counters with ribbed putty-pink cabinetry for a bit of color. For the dining zone, the homeowners sourced a vintage modernist table. Dingle and Alex choose beech wood for the millwork throughout the home because it dyes easily. “The material of the house is generally quite restrained in color, and the one area we tried to introduce color was in the various bits of joinery,” says Dingle. The stairs change from concrete to reclaimed pine, the walls from green beadboard to lime plaster, and the handrail from thin black metal to thick rounded timber as the elevation rises. In a living area on the first level, floor-to-ceiling windows look out at a verdant view; note also the cylindrical column and concrete bench that mirror the ones below. “Those tall plants and grasses are designed to improve the privacy to the room; it’s quite a dense part of London, and the houses tend to look over each other,” Dingle explains. The open primary suite is located on the top floor. Beyond the bathroom, the dressing room features crisp white closets.