vPPR transforms an old taxi garage into the award-winning Vaulted House

The front entrance of a brickhouse with staircase leading to the front grey door. Two potted mini trees on each side of the door

Replacing a former taxi garage, London-based architects vPPR completely transformed the once contaminated site with an award winning design.

(Image credit: TBC)

By Frederika Fraser

last updated 7 August 2022

The result of an extreme architectural makeover, this four-bedroom family home, replacing a former taxi garage, is the work of London-based architects vPPR. The plot, located in Hammersmith, London, had been designated as contaminated land when the architecture team took it on. This didn't stop them. Armed with an inspiring new design, vPPR completely transformed the site, which now, tucked away behind its original garage doors, hosts the award-winning Vaulted House.

In order to de-contaminate the site, a deep excavation was needed. During this process, all 1.5 metres of dug up soil had to be tested and then carefully disposed of. The surrounding context also needed to be considered as the site is enclosed by eleven party walls and is overlooked by a striking twenty-four neighbours.

An interactive floor plan showing the lower ground of a residential home — Take an Interactive Tour of Vaulted House

The project, which recently won a RIBA award, is composed of a series of repeated geometric forms. Vaults - which lend the house its name - are a main feature, found throughout the building. The roof is a key element in the design. A set of sharply detailed vaulted roofs define different living zones and the building's aerial view reveals a playful harlequin pattern from the two tones of single-ply roofing membrane used. This move cleverly breaks up the large roof area and vastly improves the neighbours' views (it previously was just rotting asphalt).

The roof system was extremely complex, explain the architects. It had to be modelled many times on 3D software to ensure that key structural components, like huge steel beams, were completely hidden away in the crisp angled finishes, both inside and out. As the site is landlocked, roof-lights were installed on top of each vault, which flood the spaces with natural light.

Internally, the vaults meet seamlessly at sharp plastered edges. The house's trademark vault shape is repeated meticulously at different scales, including sculptural chamfered edges, the fireplace and windows. Even the timber finished floors are laid in a cross pattern that is like a reflection of the vaults that lay above it.

The project's landscaping is designed to encourage the children of the family to spend as much time playing in the outdoors. Access to the garden is possible via a double-height den at the back of the house. There is also a separate study, which provides acoustic privacy and a view through to the living space. A large double-sliding door opens up completely, transforming the dining room into a loggia for the summer months.

An open plan kitchen with wooden floors, gray cabinets, white ceramic top island with grey base and a structural designed white ceiling. On the right of the kitchen is a sofa — The design hosts a series of seamless geometric shapes, repeated throughout the structure.

An open plan kitchen with wooden floors, gray cabinets, white ceramic top island (white vase with plant on the island) and a structural designed white ceiling. On the right of the kitchen is lounge area with dofa and a fire place — As the building is landlocked, roof-lights were installed on top of each vault, flooding the spaces with natural light, creating an echoed relationship between the large sliding doors and windows with the roof-lights.

Aerial view of the grey roof of a residential home featuring a playful harlequin pattern from the two tones of single-ply roofing membrane used

A white wall with an fire place. White framed painging on the wall. Dark wooden flooring and white ceiling. Black standing lamp

An opened black door in a residential home, leading to a courtyard/play area with green grass. Basket ball and 2 rackets on the grass. — The project's landscaping is designed to encourage the children of the family to spend as much time playing outdoors, expecially during the summer time.

Wood flooring with steel stairway (with steel banisters) on the right leading to the lounge upstairs. — vPPR accommodates the many aspects of everyday life by seperating the study and creating acoustic privacy providing a quiet space to work and contemplate.

Steel stairway with steel banisters) on wood flooring and white walls — De-contamination of the site was essential due to the lands previous use and 1.5 metres of soil was taken away and meticulousy tested in order to guarantee the site was safe for construction.

A corridor with high white ceiling and closed black door with a side & top glass window, leading to a courtyard/play area with green grass with a basket ball and 2 rackets on the grass. On the right of the corridow is a low white cabinet with a aeroplane toy and picture frame on it. — Access to the garden is possible via a double-height den at the back of the house.

White high ceilings and walls with wooden floors. on the left is a low white cabinet with a black flat screen tv on it, while on the right is a white L shaped cabinet — Internally, the vaults meet seamlessly at sharp plastered edges, creating rigid lines that symphonise with the monochromatic colour scheme, accentuating the repitition of the house's trademark geometric shapes.

Wooden flooring with steel staircases. A closed black door leading to a bedroom with a view of the double bed with white bed frames, grey sheets and pillow case — The roof was a challenge for the architects and had to be modelled on 3D software to ensure that key structural components, such as the large steel beams, were completely hidden away in order to not distract from the design aesthetic of the project.

A large open space in a residential home, with wooden floors, white ceilings and white walls. A lady is sitting on a huge orange cushion o nthe floor nest to a black floor lamp — The timber finished floors are laid in a cross pattern, mirroring the shapes of the vaults that lay above it; creating a further sense of harmony and tranquility in the design.

An aerial view of the roofs of the residential home with the lights on n all the visible rooms — The site is enclosed by eleven party walls and is overlooked by at least twenty-four neighbours creating a challenge for the architects to provide privacy to the house.

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