PROJECTS
After extensive planning delays and complications, consent was granted for substantial additions to this house in a leafy London street. The corner location with it’s larger garden offered scope to create a new side elevation to augment the typical large blank façades that are visible all over London and create a more animated corner with architectural interest. Full height side extensions and a conservatory together with alterations to the fenestration were undertaken in addition to re-planning this Victorian house.
‘‘… Moreover, the Oxford Dictionary of Architecture 2nd edition 2006, edited by James Stevens Curl defines symmetry as having“ harmony, proportions and unity between the parts of the building and its whole”. What is proposed will create a greater harmony than that which is seen at present, particularly when seen from views to the north.’’
Trevor Standen, Planning barrister
LADY MARGARET ROAD,
LONDON
‘‘The Council is absolutely right to have policies to resist the
infill of spaces between buildings and the incremental erosion of
the character of conservation areas, but that is not the case here.
This is a large corner plot with an unprepossessing flank elevation which is capable of positive enhancement.’’
Philip Davies, (Heritage & Planning Ltd) representations to the local authority planning committee
‘‘…Where is the harm to justify refusal? On the contrary, the scheme
will enhance the significance of the house, and its contribution to
the conservation area, and I strongly urge you to approve it.’’
Philip Davies, (Heritage & Planning Ltd) representations to the local authority planning committee
THE DETAILS
The new work to this building was undertaken with a conservation specification, ensuring compatibility of new work with old. Emma Simpson led the brickwork and masonry team under the auspices of Graham Merton and his excellent construction team at Eaton Gate Builders.
No 94 Lady Margaret Road sits within the Ward of St George in the Tufnell Park Conservation Area in the London borough of Islington. Number 94 is the northern part of a pair of semi-detached houses that face due west at the junction with Hugo Road. The flank side wall of the house faces north across Hugo Road and is some 20 metres from the next house north (No 96 Lady Margaret Road). The houses on the other side of Lady Margaret Road, facing east have frontages at about 24 metres from the houses on the side of No 94. The rear garden of No 94 separates the east rear façade of No 94 from the side extensions to No 2 Hugo Road.
Three good street trees overhang the garden wall to Hugo Road and provide an attractive screen to the otherwise bland north facing flank wall to the house.
The house, like those nearby in Lady Margaret Road are late nineteenth century speculative built houses in yellow stock brick, blackened over time with painted stone window cills, hooded architraves, bay window columns and lintels and pilastered front door piers with decorative projecting corbelled hoods. Bay windows are covered in subtle decorative natural welsh slates with lead rolled hips. The house is finished with a timber projecting eaves supported by cantilevered brick corbels, similar to the details developed by John Soane for his stable buildings at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea (1810-14).
The overall appearance of the house is that of restrained simplicity with focal points of precise and decorative late Victorian stonework set within a generous open street environment with good trees screening the corner location.