Swarovski House III, London N1

A masterful contemporary intervention has reimagined Swarovski House, an early Victorian two-bedroom home in Islington's Arlington Square conservation area. A series of double-height, interlocked volumes unfold behind its traditional stock-brick frontage, where raw concrete and oak have been used to striking effect. At the rear is a Yorkstone-laid garden, while above, a roof terrace captures far-reaching views of the city.



The Tour



The house was designed in 2001 by David Adjaye, an early project that demonstrates skilful manipulation of spatial volumes and natural light. The design reworked the internal plan to create various half levels connected by a beautiful timber staircase, with unexpected openings providing views from one space to another.



The house’s panelled front door is set in a moulded door surround surmounted with a recessed triangular pediment. Entry is to the ground-floor reception room, which retains its Victorian proportions and handsome front-facing sash window. Embrasure shutters remain in situ, and there are built-in storage cupboards on either side. The current owners use this as the dining space and there is an open fireplace on one side of the room.



Stairs from the ground floor descend to a double-height kitchen and living room, the centrepiece of the house. The space is grounded by a concrete plinth and enveloped by vertically laid oak cladding. Clean lines and unexpected openings along the staircase reveal the volume's complexity. Expansive glazing, including a glass door, faces the garden and draws in abundant natural light.



The kitchen has matching oak cabinets with a deep worksurface. There is a four-ring gas hob, a double sink, and an integrated oven and fridge/freezer. Adjacent to the kitchen is plenty of space for an additional dining or living space.



The hallway from the kitchen continues into an under-pavement utility room, and a glazed door that opens onto the street-facing courtyard, where there is bike storage in the second vault. There is also a handy WC accessed via the hallway.



On the first floor is the principal bedroom. Here, the Victorian character of the building is palpable in a pair of four-over-four sash windows, original floorboards and a stone hearth. Built-in wardrobes have also been added. There is an additional double bedroom on the lower-ground floor, finished in a soft shade of pink and pale blue resin floor.



Opposite the bedroom, across a bright hallway, is the bathroom. This has a new walk-in rain-style shower, a freestanding bath by Inbani and a pair of wash basins. The bathroom is exceptionally voluminous, with a series of windows drawing in light from above and framing a view of a nearby tree.



On the second floor is a plywood-panelled home office or reading room. A door here opens to the roof terrace, which is laid with timber decking and has views towards the trees of Union Square and St James' Church.



Outdoor Space



At the rear of the house, a flagstone-laid garden landscaped with monolithic concrete steps and benches opens from the lower ground living space. Brick walls rise behind beds of bamboo, hostas and ferns, and an acer tree.



The concrete effortlessly flows from the inside to the garden, weaving these spaces together with a continuous, sculptural sweep. There is a feeling of total symbiosis; as architectural writer Peter Allison remarked, "it is unclear whether we should understand the house as an extension of the garden, or the garden as an extension of the house".



The Area



Bevan Street is a peaceful residential street running towards the Regent’s Canal. Despite its quiet position, the house is within easy reach of the shops, bars and restaurants of Upper Street, Shoreditch, Hoxton and Clerkenwell.



Close by are the likes of Pophams Bakery, The Duke of Cambridge, Toconoco and Towpath. Neighbourhood favourite, The Baring, is nearby and serves delicious seasonal food. De Beauvoir Town is only 15 minutes away on foot and is home to the popular De Beauvoir deli and De Beauvoir Arms. Sourdough Sophia serves excellent bread and is approximately a 10-minute walk on Essex Road, while Quince Bakery is only a few minutes away.



For green space, the broad expanses of Shoreditch Park lie less than 10 minutes' walk away, while London Fields and Broadway Market (with its excellent weekend food market) can be accessed via a delightful canal-side walk in the warmer months. Arlington Square Gardens is around the corner.



Angel, Old Street, Highbury and Islington and Essex Road stations are nearby for Underground and Overground rail services. There are plenty of bus routes in the area that provide access to the City and the West End.



Council Tax Band: F