McMahon Architecture crafts contemporary brick dwelling in east London

Located on a narrow plot – a former Second World War bomb site – in east London, Leyton House is a contemporary brick dwelling designed by London-based practice McMahon Architecture. Defined by its finely detailed timber structure, suspended on a monolithic masonry plinth, it is a bold departure from its neighbouring Victorian counterparts and ‘a subtle sanctuary and a retreat from the bustle of the street’, says the practice’s founder Louise McMahon. 

The client, filmmaker and writer Max Barron, wanted a home that he could live and work in, and which could easily be altered in the future. ‘I’d always dreamed of building my own house, an obsession inherited from my dad. But I never thought I’d get the chance, still less in London,’ he says. The brief for the three-level home was to optimise the potential of the tight infill site, while providing the necessary space for the client’s current and future needs. ‘Within a small plot, we wanted to create as many spatially dynamic moments as possible,’ says the architect. The key to unlocking the site was to integrate subterranean quarters.

‘The original plot had permission for a home of around 90 sq m, but we managed to achieve more than double that by maximising the underground potential,’ she says. ‘Creating the basement enabled us to free the upper floors from ancillary spaces and create a more open home.’ The basement is designed around two cleverly configured courtyards that allow ample amounts of light to reach the lower depths of the building. ‘The basement provides generous floor-to-ceiling height, which makes the lower level feel spacious,’ the architect continues. This level boasts a lofty guest bedroom, bathroom, archive, screening zone, study and utility room that hides the building’s services.

At ground level, you are met by a modest open living space with courtyard gardens on each end. Here, a well-placed setback between the ground and first floor creates a roof light that stretches the width of the building. As daylight filters down through the exposed timber joists, a playful sequence of shadows is cast inside the internal areas.

‘We were keen to expose the structure. The same materials that hold up the building give it character,’ McMahon says. An in-situ concrete bench flows through the ground floor, demarcating the kitchen and living areas before extending out into the courtyard. ‘The external materiality runs through the interior spaces, creating a series of internal and external rooms,’ explains McMahon.

As you travel up the elegant top-lit timber staircase, daylight flows down into the lower levels. On the first floor, comprising a small dressing space and master bedroom with a large picture window, soft pink clay plaster is complemented by cork flooring and Siberian larch timberwork. ‘We employed a natural material palette to create a warm and calming atmosphere,’ says McMahon. ‘The concept for the top floor was that it should feel special, as if suspended in the air.’

From the outside, the house appears as a series of rectilinear volumes, its simple form punctuated by a sculptural chimney. ‘The brick chimney anchors the composition and adds verticality to the dwelling,’ explains the architect. At the apex of this structure is a subtle detail that is a nod to the Victorian chimney pots found along the street. 

Founded in 2017, McMahon Architecture prides itself on its sensitive approach to scale, strong understanding of construction, and meticulous detailing. Through intelligent use of materials, space and daylight, it aims to create generous homes that achieve an unexpected sense of tranquillity. In Leyton House, the practice has carefully reimagined the adjacent terrace houses to create a spacious architectural gem. 

INFORMATION

mcmahonarchitecture.com