Tucked away in a suburban garden in Uxbridge, west London, a residential annexe nestles into its context, offering both privacy and connection. Designed by architecture studio Bureau de Change, Uxbridge Bower is built to be lively and expressive, taking on at the same time, a contemporary and functional, geometric form.
Uxbridge Bower, west London
The client requested discrete living quarters for one-half of the couple's mother to stay in, when they visit from their native Greece. The resulting single-storey 30 sqm pavilion allows for effortless intergenerational living when the family's three generations are united in London.
The annexe’s compact design accommodates the height and mass planning restrictions within the area. The architecture studio made the most of each square metre of the plot, making sure to create a comfortable, open space. Their aim was to avoid the feeling of being cramped.
A bedroom faces onto the garden, which is connected to a private ensuite bathroom. Taking in the greenery, the pavilion still ensures privacy, keeping away from the garden storage at the rear, evoking a quirky urban retreat.
The build's hexagonal plan was born of a strategy centred on ‘minimising the mass of the pavilion while creating heightened drama.’ Columns frame the elevation, which creates a seamless, flowing line. Glazed panels are fitted with sliding doors, allowing for easy access into the garden, and veranda.
The design nods to the 20th century's Art Deco movement, featuring abstract geometric shapes and bright colours. Decorative panels enliven the entrances, featuring hammered terrazzo - the same type that lines the veranda floor. However, the interior palette of this Uxbridge annexe is warm and natural. The ochre paint on the underside of the ceiling gives an organic and cosy feel to the space throughout the seasons.
-
Remembering Frank Gehry, a titan of architecture and a brilliant human beingLong-time Wallpaper* contributor Michael Webb reflects on the legacy of the Los Angeles architect, who died today at age 96
-
Lexus finally confirms the name of its all-electric LFA Concept supercarStill designated a design study, the Lexus LFA Concept should be the successor to the most unlikely of all 20th-century supercars
-
King of cashmere Brunello Cucinelli on his new biographical docu-drama: ‘This is my testimony’Directed by Cinema Paradiso’s Giuseppe Tornatore, ‘Brunello: the Gracious Visionary’ premiered in cinematic fashion at Rome’s Cinecittà studios last night, charting the meteoric rise of the deep-thinking Italian designer
-
The Architecture Edit: Wallpaper’s houses of the monthFrom wineries-turned-music studios to fire-resistant holiday homes, these are the properties that have most impressed the Wallpaper* editors this month
-
A refreshed 1950s apartment in East London allows for moments of discoveryWith this 1950s apartment redesign, London-based architects Studio Naama wanted to create a residence which reflects the fun and individual nature of the clients
-
David Kohn’s first book, ‘Stages’, is unpredictable, experimental and informativeThe first book on David Kohn Architects focuses on the work of the award-winning London-based practice; ‘Stages’ is an innovative monograph in 12 parts
-
100 George Street is the new kid on the block in fashionable MaryleboneLondon's newest luxury apartment building brings together a sensitive exterior and thoughtful, 21st-century interiors
-
Futuristic-feeling Southwark Tube Station has been granted Grade II-listed statusCelebrated as an iconic piece of late 20th-century design, the station has been added to England’s National Heritage List
-
Archiboo Awards 2025 revealed, including prizes for architecture activism and use of AIArchiboo Awards 2025 are announced, highlighting Narrative Practice as winners of the Activism in architecture category this year, among several other accolades
-
Backstage at the Old Vic is all about light, theatre and sustainable actionThe theatre's new creative hub by Haworth Tompkins has completed, bringing a distinctly contemporary and colourful addition to the popular theatre space in South London
-
Tempted to try building with stone? This project will convince you of its meritsWelcome to the Future Observatory's The Stone Demonstrator, a project conceived to show off the material's strong points, now on display in West London
