Pink house extension in North London celebrates nature, colour and material
A pink house extension, crafted by architecture studio Unknown Works, defines Pigment House, a new, minimalist North London home
![rear extension view interior of pink house in concrete, the Pigment House by unknown works](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wuEbMrkvvjGKJRAKGeYo2K-415-80.jpg)
A pink house extension peeks out from the green foliage among a series of rear gardens in North London; welcome to Pigment House by Unknown Works. The architecture studio, one of the 20 highlighted in the 2022 Wallpaper* Architects Directory, is a refined piece of minimalist architecture that celebrates colour and material, in an idyllic urban backdrop filled with planting and sleepy period homes.
Crafting the eye catching, pink house extension
Pigment House was a commission by two clients, an ex TV producer and a barrister. The pair was after the reimagining of their four story semi-detached terrace to place a firmer focus towards the rear garden, and alongside it, rework the inside/outside relationships within the home.
Set on a steep slope, the property featured plenty of space but the lower levels suffered from dark, enclosed rooms. Unknown Works, headed by co-directors Ben Hayes, Kaowen Ho and Theo Games Petrohilos, inspired by the clients' travels, looked to the modernist architecture of Mexican Luis Barragan to change that - and in particular the master's approach to volumes, surfaces and use of colour.
The result is a radical transformation of the lower, rear and outdoors areas, through the excavation of the hillside and the re-terracing of the steeply sloped garden. The patio's concrete walls and floors are now defined by their dusty pink pigment (all concrete work was done by specialist Francisco Checa Romero) - which is complemented by rendered wall panels on the exterior facade.
Inside, everything was stripped back to its minimalist shell, and reworked to prioritise generosity of space and light - as well as views towards the garden. Fresh bespoke elements - such as the custom oak kitchen with sawn oak cabinetry, which was made by designer Alistair Fleming in Lewes - further elevate the space through design and a made-to-measure approach.
‘Playful land-forming was essential to unlocking the potential of this home, reconnecting the interior spaces of the house to a challenging steep upward sloping garden. The creative use of a limited material palette allowed us to create a cohesive home that feels contemporary and characterful,' says Hayes.
And his clients agree: ‘Unknown Works guided us through difficult times in construction, part of which coincided with Covid and the aftermath of Brexit; as a result, the costs of materials and labour increased dramatically during the project. Ben always presented a calming influence on the project and helped us navigate these and other challenges without compromising on the quality of home we were aiming for. As for the house, it already had a great combination of proportion and light amplified by UW’s design which remodelled the main living space and integrated it with the wonderful pink concrete terrace and garden.’
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
The Mercury Prize nominees for 2024 have been revealed
Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons are amongst this year's nominees
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Tour the Natural History Museum’s new gardens, a Jurassic lark in London
The Natural History Museum in London has unveiled two new gardens, with resident dinosaurs, after a transformation led by architects Feilden Fowles
By Bridget Downing Published
-
Drama Republic moves into a colourful, handcrafted workspace in London
For the new creative HQ of production company Drama Republic, Emil Eve Architects remodels a warehouse into office space in London’s Holborn
By Léa Teuscher Published
-
Hideaway House in London features timber panelling inspired by the New York hospitality scene
The elegantly refurbished Hideaway House by Studio McW in London features timber panelling inspired by Philip Johnson’s The Four Seasons Restaurant
By Léa Teuscher Published
-
An Uxbridge annexe by Bureau de Change is a design for effortless intergenerational living
Uxbridge Bower, a residential annexe in west London, is a contemporary addition offering both privacy and connection for the needs of a family
By Tianna Williams Published
-
‘Modern Buildings’ tours south-east London through a guide to post-war Blackheath and Greenwich
‘Modern Buildings: Blackheath and Greenwich’ is a detailed survey of a London borough’s rich trove of new modernist architecture
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Triangle House invites you to its inner world of colourful surprises
Triangle House by Artefact is a private home in Epsom, outside London, combining Caribbean style, colour and functionality
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Tour the refreshed Saint Andrew Holborn: an icon reveals its crisp new interior in London
DaeWha Kang reimagines Saint Andrew Holborn church through a sensitive architectural solution that blends tradition and modernity in London
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A Suffolk house by Studio Bark pairs a fresh visual language with low-energy design
Suffolk house Water Farm is off-the-grid but defiantly on the map, a bold new object in the landscape with a strong visual impact and minimal carbon footprint
By Jonathan Bell Published