Gore Road II, London E9

Architect Hikaru Kitai has masterfully reimagined this sublime five-bedroom townhouse opposite Victoria Park. Behind its stock-brick façade are rooms shaped by Japanese building techniques and beautiful materials, including concrete, steel, cherrywood and marble. Light diffuses throughout, creating an exaggerated sense of volume and spaciousness in an already generous plan of 2,750 sq ft. Distinct but connected to the internal plan are a rear garden, as well as a serene lower courtyard.



The Tour



Leafy Gore Road faces the large expanse of Victoria Park. The approach is through a densely planted front garden with a towering banana plant that increases privacy within.



Inside, a harmonious balance of Victorian, modern industrial, and Japanese-inspired design has been achieved by architect-owner Hikaru Kitai. Versatility is at the heart of its inception; although presently lived in as a single home, it has been configured so that the lower two floors could be two separate homes.



From the entrance lobby, oversized internal doors lead into the ground-floor living spaces. In the front, original Victorian window shutters framing a tripartite sash have been preserved, and a built-in window seat has been added. Dual-aspect, the room receives light on either end. A log burner is a warming focal point against a steel-clad wall with built-in ply storage and wooden floorboards - an example of the striking material contrasts seen throughout.



A bannister of rust-red industrial steel rods follows cast-concrete steps down to the kitchen and dining area. The home's visual centrepoint, it has the feel of a Japanese cabin, with cherrywood used on the ceiling and in bespoke cabinetry. Atop the latter is a raw poured concrete worktop with a textured edge. Appliances include a Mercury range cooker, a fridge-freezer and a dishwasher. A double sink unit appears to float in front of Crittall-style glazing overlooking a sunken courtyard.



The dining area is at the rear of the room. The floor becomes a stone-seeded, terrazzo-like polished concrete surface. A soothing light seeps in through glazing set beneath exposed beams above, while Maxlight sliding doors open to the rear garden - a supremely convenient arrangement for summertime outdoor dining.



A poured concrete stairwell descends to the basement, a painstakingly hand-excavated space with high ceilings. There is a guest suite here, with a striking Ofuro Iroko soaking tub and a wet-room shower with a concrete floor. The walls here are built of concrete, cherrywood and organic hay-filled. From the hallway is a light-filled study with Crittall-style windows that stretch up to the upper floor. A door here, and another in the bedroom, open to the courtyard. A room for laundry can also be found here.



A Victorian staircase ascends to the upper floors, where a second living room has sash windows with wonderful park views. This would also make for a generous bedroom with an open fireplace and built-in storage. A large bathroom is also positioned on the first floor, with a walk-in shower, two marble sinks, bench seating with ply storage, and an oval bath; a sculptural hand-built stone lintel frames an adjacent sash window.



There are two bedrooms on the second floor, one with a pristine en suite WC. The principal suite occupies the top level, a sequestered position that lends it a sense of privacy. A dramatic mezzanine level, accessed via an open-tread staircase, rests above, taking full advantage of dramatic ceiling heights. Ply concertina doors reveal a dressing room and an exquisitely finished bathroom with a shower, concealed WC and a concrete-topped vanity.



Outdoor Space



There are several distinct outdoor spaces; the first, the front garden, sets the tone for what unfolds within. The rear garden is spacious, with mature trees planted around its periphery. There is also a lower courtyard, with space for potted plants. From here, a spiral staircase leads up to the upper floor, enhancing the home's sense of connectivity.



The Area



Gore Road stands on the perimeter of Victoria Park, close to perennially popular Victoria Park Village. There is a wonderful array of organic cafés, shops and delis, including Ginger Pig butchers, The Deli Downstairs, Jonathan Norris fishmongers, Bottle Apostle wine merchants, Pophams café and the eponymous Gail’s bakery. There are also excellent pubs, including The Hawke, The Hemingway, the Lauriston, the Empress and the Royal Inn on the Park. In the warmer months, the village comes alive, attracting residents from across east London to the park’s green open spaces and the vast array of picnic provisions.



The choice of local parks is exceptional; the borough of Hackney has the most park acreage in London. Victoria Park, east London’s largest park, encompasses over 200 acres of green space. Designed by John Nash’s pupil Sir James Pennethorne, it was laid out in the 1840s and is now a Grade II*-listed public space. Attractions include the vast boating lake, several activity spaces, tennis courts, and the ever-popular Pavilion café at the heart of the park. A weekend food and produce market here is particularly popular.



Broadway Market and London Fields Lido, with its heated lido, are a short cycle away. The nearby Regent’s Canal towpath is a well-trodden path and is home to favourites Toconoco and Towpath.



Cambridge Heath and London Fields are the nearest stations; both run Weaver line services to Liverpool Street.



Council Tax Band: TBC