British architecture firm Will Gamble Architects has extended and modernised a Victorian house in South London, using curved forms and a palette of natural materials to create a calm, minimalist look.
The clients – a couple looking for a forever home – asked Will Gamble Architects to oversee the transformation of the semi-detached house in Putney into a serene retreat.
Architectural firm Proctor & Shaw initially prepared the planning drawings, after which Gamble’s studio was appointed to develop a cohesive interior design for the entire house, including technical drawings and revised spatial layouts for the upper floors.
To meet the clients’ request for more space, an extension was added at the rear and in the attic.
“We wanted to maximise space and light as much as possible through clever design solutions,” architect Will Gamble told Dezeen.
“This was particularly relevant for the upper floors, where the brief required four bedrooms and three bathrooms. A conventional layout did not provide sufficient space for this.”
Gamble applied what he described as a “soft minimalism” approach throughout the interior, using a pared-down palette of textural materials to ensure consistency across all floors.
“Soft minimalism is defined by curved lines, soft tonal hues, natural materials and carefully composed spaces,” the architect said. “This aesthetic allowed us to deliver a highly bespoke project, tailored to our clients’ needs.”
Curved niches, curved walls and a custom staircase with semi-circular landings, rounded balusters and a turned oak banister contribute to an aesthetic characterised by soft geometry.
Muted colours like warm white and soft pink provide a soft and cohesive backdrop, while more textured materials like oak and richly veined marble add personality to some spaces.
The new staircase was lit by an oval skylight that continues the theme of soft, rounded forms. The skylight casts natural light deep into the floor plan and can be opened to allow chimney ventilation to naturally cool the interior.
Custom furniture adds functionality and visual interest to rooms including the master bedroom. An oak headboard provides additional storage and also conceals the adjacent shower room.
The bespoke bed and headboard with integrated wardrobes are positioned centrally within the room to maximise the available space. The en-suite includes a pair of marble-clad basins either side of a walk-in shower.
Pippy oak was used elsewhere in the house for furniture, including bedside tables and built-in storage. The wood’s distinctive knots and knot clusters stand out and complement the other natural materials.
“The pippy oak’s ‘cats paw’ pattern adds a touch of decadence to the otherwise muted material palette,” Gamble added. “We used this unique material in key areas to create a hierarchy of spaces throughout the project.”
As part of the renovation project, the building’s historic structure was thermally upgraded to reduce energy consumption and create a more comfortable environment. A home automation system was also incorporated, minimizing visible light switches and contributing to the uncluttered, minimalist interiors.
According to Gamble, the owners were interested in “achieving a high-quality finish, driven by a keen attention to detail,” which led to a highly bespoke project, tailored to their exact requirements.
Will Gamble founded his London-based studio in 2018 after working for Farrells and Francis Philips Architects. The practice specialises in sensitively adapting existing buildings through contemporary architectural interventions.
The studio’s previous projects include a house built into the ruins of a 17th-century parchment factory in Northamptonshire and a glass-walled extension to a Georgian house in Leicestershire.