Kew House
Kew House is a four-bedroom family home in southwest London with a spirited vision. It is the result of a collaboration between the clients - husband and wife Tim and Jo Lucas - together with local architecture firm Piercy & Company.
(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

A spirited project that is full of surprises, Kew House is a four-bedroom family home in southwest London, transformed from an existing structure on the plot. It is the result of a collaboration between the clients - husband and wife Tim and Jo Lucas - together with local architecture practice Piercy & Company. The intention was to create a ’pure expression of Tim and I in a very bespoke way’, explains Jo.

In response to the area’s existing architecture, the original 19th century red brick building - previously hosting stables that were later converted into garages - was kept intact and further complemented by the placement of corten steel shells over the façade. The weathered steel sheeting gives the house a tactile and natural aesthetic inspired by Jo’s Australian roots, with perforated holes creating dappled light throughout the day, drawing on the leafy trees of the nearby Kew Gardens.

The building is a play of interlocking spaces, reaching over five metres from base to ceiling. A bridge encased by large glass windows connects the two volumes of the home, allowing plenty of natural light to penetrate all the way through to a secluded courtyard at the back of the plot. It separates the communal kitchen and dining spaces in the larger left wing from the bedrooms and underground lounge room housed in the right.

Inside, untreated timber flooring was chosen especially for its natural, pared-down appearance, while ’a straightforward earthly colour palette is maintained throughout’. The house is one of very few contemporary buildings in the area and is designed to be zero maintenance and carbon neutral.

Hidden from view is an underground workshop where the client spends his time creating ’everything and anything’. It is also where most of the furniture fit-outs were manufactured using a CNC machine. The workshop’s footprint is very generous and able to accommodate the construction of a 16 ft boat - a future goal of the client once the finishing touches are placed on the house.

Kew House Roof

In response to the area's existing architecture, the original 19th century red brick building - which previously hosted stables that were later converted into garages - was kept intact and further complemented by the placement of corten steel shells over the roof and façade

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House weathered steel sheeting

The weathered steel sheeting gives the house a tactile and natural aesthetic inspired by Jo's Australian roots, with perforated holes creating dappled light throughout the day, drawing on the leafy trees of the Kew Gardens nearby

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House glass bridge

A large glass bridge connects the two main volumes of the house, overlooking a secluded courtyard at the back of the plot

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House interior

It separates the communal kitchen and dining spaces in the larger left wing from the bedrooms and underground lounge room housed in the right

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House expansive windows

The building is a play of interlocking volumes, with the internal and external spaces are in constant dialogue thanks to the expansive windows

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House Untreated timber flooring

Untreated timber flooring was used throughout the house. Along with the rusty external cladding, it emphasises the building's natural ageing process

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House perforated motif

The perforated motif reappears all over the house, including the bedrooms

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House in the rafters

Up in the rafters, savvy planning means maximum use has been made of trickier spaces

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House restrained colour scheme

The restrained colour scheme allows Kew House's unusal angles and perspectives to stand out

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House Floor-to-ceiling windows

Floor-to-ceiling windows on the ground floor fill the spacious house with natural light

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)

Kew House underground workshop

Hidden from view is an underground workshop where the client spends his time creating 'everything and anything'. It is also where most of the furniture fit-outs were manufactured using a CNC machine

(Image credit: Jack Hobhouse)