A precise reworking of a listed Victorian home, combining crafted contemporary form with the character of the original building.
Richmond upon Thames, London
Ribbon House is a thoughtful transformation of a listed Victorian property, reworked to meet the needs of modern family living while honouring the building’s historic character. The project challenged us to balance preservation with invention, introducing a contemporary extension that draws from the language of the original architecture without mimicking it.
Set on a uniquely wedge-shaped urban plot, the house presented both spatial and geometric complexity from the outset. The listed south-facing frontage, protected for its heritage significance, remained entirely untouched. As a result, the design strategy concentrated on the northern side of the property, where a more expressive architectural response could unfold.
Internally, the ground floor plan was completely reimagined. The existing layout lacked cohesion for contemporary use, so rooms were reorganised to improve flow, privacy and flexibility. Changes in floor level, ceiling height and room depth generated a dynamic spatial sequence that required carefully coordinated structural solutions to maintain clarity and lightness throughout.
The rear extension introduces a contemporary counterpoint to the Victorian fabric. Its form plays with ideas of solid and void, pattern and shadow, drawing subtle influence from the building’s original detailing. A bespoke cladding design, derived from features such as the high-level brickwork, forms the defining element of the façade. This pattern demanded exceptional precision in both design and fabrication. A central structural column anchors the form, dividing the extension into higher and lower volumes that reflect the asymmetric geometry of the site.
Delivering the façade required a close collaborative effort between architect, contractor and specialist trades. The patterned cladding allowed almost no tolerance, necessitating bespoke trim details to frame the glazing and maintain the exactness of the design. Each component was hand-crafted, welded and finished with painstaking attention to detail, an approach that carried the architectural intent through to the final built expression.
Sustainability was integral to the brief. The scheme incorporates renewable technologies, airtightness strategies and reclaimed materials, paired with an emphasis on natural daylight and strong thermal mass to reduce operational energy demands. Generous glazing to the north-east draws light deep into the plan, turning previously dim rooms into uplifting family spaces.
The completed Ribbon House is both confident and restrained. The contemporary extension enriches the listed building without overshadowing it, creating a home that is rooted in its heritage while firmly aligned with the needs and values of modern life. Crafted, light-filled and enduring, it represents a sensitive evolution of a much-loved historic property.