In our DIY-enthused culture, there are some who might think they don’t require an architect’s design skills even for a ground-up construction. A project like Atelier Chan Chan’s Herringbone House in Islington, London, reminds us so clearly of why we do. Despite its awkwardly wedge-shaped, urban-infill site, the elegant four-bedroom house, with its patterned-brick exterior, warm Scandinavian interior finishes, and front and back courtyards, appears deceptively simple and straightforward—truly the mark of good design.
Unless otherwise noted, photographs by Mike Tsang via Arch Daily and Dezeen.
Above: Founding principal of Atelier Chan Chan, architect Zoe Chan, stands before her recently completed design. The house is comprised of two volumes, one of which steps back to created a courtyard. While the use of brick fits into the context of the surrounding Victorican terrace houses, the herringbone pattern is a contemporary update that sets the structure apart from its neighbors. Photograph by Thomas Giddings.
Above: Inspired by siheyuan, traditional Chinese courtyard houses, Chan, who was born in England of Chinese parents, introduced two walled courtyard rooms, one at the front and one at the back, as an effective solution for drawing light into the middle of the narrow and nonlinear site.
Above: The open layout means that light and air flood through the length of the house, from the front walled courtyard to the combination kitchen and dining area in the back. Photograph by Thomas Giddings.
Above: A kitchen wall of pearl-colored bricks is effective in reflecting light; the brick's texture keeps the room from looking at all cold or sterile.
Above: Wall-to-wall storage in the kitchen doubles as a bench.
Above: Chan inserted a second walled courtyard garden behind the kitchen, ensuring that light and air flow through at both ends.
Above: A muted palette of whites, grays, and beiges runs consistently from room to room.
Above: A sculptural steel stair with open risers is flooded with light from a skylight above. Photograph by Thomas Giddings.
Above: A view from one bedroom down the length of the house to another illustrates the effectiveness of the light-producing wall courtyards upstairs as well as down.
Above: Limed wood brings warmth into the bedrooms while reflecting light.
Above: Marble-tiled floors and above-counter sinks add an understated luxury in the master bathroom.
Above: Cracked porcelain cabinet knobs introduce subtle texture to the white palette of the bathroom.
Above: Herringbone brickwork is a classic used in a new way.
Above: Atelier Chan Chan introduced maximum glazing and a horizontal coursing of the brick pattern to delineate the floor levels. Photograph by Thomas Giddings.
The floor plans delineate the architect's inventive use of the wedge-shaped site. Above L: The ground floor shows the two walled courtyard gardens at the front and back of the house. Above R: The three-bedroom upstairs level.
Can you Spot the Difference Between Herringbone and Chevron? If you're looking for more examples of artful brickwork, see 5 Favorites: Bricks Made Modern. And over on Gardenista, we show you What to Grow on a Brick Wall.
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