Georgian architecture has long been a source of inspiration to architects for its clean external lines, balanced proportions and majestic windows that often concealed a more playful, ornamental interior. Even modernist Erno Goldfinger admits to referencing the historical style, when he designed his famous Hampstead home, Willow Road.
Architects Gundry + Ducker also looked at Georgian interiors for their latest residential project in London, White Rabbit House, the renovation of a 1970s Neo-Georgian terrace. ‘The idea was to insert a modern interpretation of Georgian house interior into a standard post war house’, says Christian Ducker. ‘We wanted a playful interior, accommodating the unexpected, with changes in scale and height and atmosphere.’
The result is a colourful home, which ticks all the boxes the client outlined – mostly, practical requirements in terms of bedroom numbers and storage needs – but also offers a tongue-in-cheek alternative to residential design. Marble and terrazzo floors, arches and bespoke joinery in a vibrant green colour make the living areas pop, while the standout moment is without a doubt the grand staircase that unfolds into the entrance hall’s triple-height void.
White Rabbit’s distinctive style made it a worthy winner in the ‘Most Unique Character’ category in this year’s Don’t Move, Improve! competition, organised by the NLA; winners were announced earlier in the week, celebrating the capital’s finest home improvement projects in categories highlighting, among other elements, size, sustainability and craftmanship. §
