Emil Eve Architects transforms and extends a tired former nursery into a family home defined by the dramatic play of daylight through its deep plan, earning a RIBA East Award
2025 RIBA East Award
House
Emil Eve Architects for private client
Contract value: Confidential
GIA: 334m2
The Covid-19 lockdowns resulted in many young families reconsidering the accessible towns around London for their future lives. This family found themselves re-evaluating Harpenden, where the client, who showed the jury around her house, had grown up before fleeing to the capital.
This house, which previously operated as a nursery and needed a total refit, might have put off many, but this couple have totally rethought it for their future life – ably supported by the architects. They seemed to have understood the balance between retaining the original rooms and details that define the existing house’s character, and the need to make bold moves for modern living. The architects have notably delivered subtle yet dramatic changes of daylight throughout the deep plan.
The front gives away no secrets; whether by design or through pressure from the planning team, this is just a Victorian villa on the road with a sympathetic extension. Only as you step deeper into the front hall is the first surprise delivered: in the centre of the plan, the extended entrance hall is double height, served by an east-facing window and overlooked by a library at first floor.
Elevating this atrium into a double-height space is inspired and brave, given that it required the loss of a room at first floor. Around it are all the key functions of the house – entrance, stair, utility room, kitchen-dining room and both the play space and the living room. Not only are they all connected to the hall, but – with the exception of a small study/gym – they interconnect with one another as a sequence.
All the functional aspects of a busy family home including utility and storage areas are discreet and well provided for – to the extent that there is the potential that the couple may create a microbrewery. The extension to the garden unusually stretches from the boundary to leave just a passage on the north side of the house.
The interior space is broken up not only by the functional uses but also by how the light is modulated through four different-sized rooflights placed within the sawtooth-shaped roof. The client is relishing the experience of living with the changing pattern of daylight and expressed her enjoyment of watching the movement of light across the spaces.
From the back garden, the extension and sawtooth roof contrast in form and colour with the original house. This is a successful statement of intent to make a new mark on the original house and open it up as much as possible to the garden. The upper floors also pivot around the double-height space, which separates the guest rooms from the master bedroom suite while leaving the children the freedom of the top floor.
The jury was impressed that the architects and clients have worked hard to create a truly comfortable home where the manipulation of daylight has informed the sequence of spaces, for a very congenial and organised family life.
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RIBA UK Awards 2025 sponsored by Autodesk, EH Smith, Equitone and VELUX
Credits
Contractor Ancoba
Structural engineer Mark and Partners