Located on a sloping site in Dollis Hill, north London, this beautifully minimalist house is designed by architecture studio Thomas McBrien. A very calm and relaxing everyday space where the lightly washed oak joinery elements, mixed with natural stone worktops and mortar washed brickwork, are the protagonists.

Due to the severity of the slope across the site, the rear garden is approximately 1.2 meters below the existing ground floor level. Works involved the construction of a new single storey rear extension, including the full refurbishment of the existing property. A split level plan was introduced at the ground floor level to connect the house to the garden.

This new single storey rear extension is constructed from brick and concrete. Large and elegant full-height sliding doors open out onto a south-facing terrace with easy access to the garden beyond. The external terrace, acting as a plinth, helps to ground the new extension into the slope.

Internally, full-height oak joinery is proposed throughout. The insertion of deep seating in the joinery offers a comfortable, sheltered enclosure—a perfect place to read and relax. The seating extends along the flank wall and into the casement window, offering a window seat with direct views over the rear garden.

This project is the definition of warm minimalism. The brightness of the oak joinery is perfectly integrated with the architecture of the house for an elegant sense of calm and comfort.

Thomas McBrien is a London-based architecture studio, established by Barry McBrien in 2017. The studio is currently working on a range of projects from temporary installations and residential projects to new larger-scale places to live, to work, to learn, and to worship.