Layer House

Modern living, layered with history.

This much-loved Victorian villa had presence and charm in abundance — at least from the front. Like many homes of its era, the internal spaces were cellular, dark and disconnected from a generous mature garden.

Our clients came to us with a clear ambition: to breathe new life into their newly acquired home and make it fit for modern family life. With two energetic boys in tow and a home arranged over no fewer than seven split levels, they wanted something joyful, flexible and full of light.

The brief

We began, as always, by listening. We explored how they hoped to live, how the house currently worked (and didn’t), and how its unusual split-level configuration might become a feature, not a frustration.

The design focused on unlocking the potential already within the footprint. We reimagined the internal layout, connecting spaces, simplifying circulation, and revealing new opportunities at every level. From bedroom suites to reworked storage and bathrooms, the revised plan offered more flow, clarity, and purpose.

The design

The new rear addition forms the heart of the home. An overtly contemporary space that opens fully onto the garden, designed to bring the outside in and the inside out.

A dramatic series of level changes gives each space its own identity: the kitchen and dining area sit level with the garden for easy access and entertaining, while a raised lounge area projects out over the planting, offering a calm, elevated view of the landscape. High ceilings and sliding glass doors ensure the whole space is filled with natural light, whatever the time of day.

From outside, the new form frames the internal life of the home, expressing family living with clarity and confidence.

Materials and detail

Materiality was key. We paired stainless steel with larch timber — simple, enduring and carefully detailed. Steel wraps each architectural volume, defining edges and structure, while the warm timber cladding angles inward to frame views and draw the eye.

To weave the new into the old, we reclaimed brick from the demolition and used it to reshape the rear elevation. Angled brick window reveals add sculptural depth and visual continuity — a confident conversation between old and new.

This approach continues all the way to the roofline, creating a consistent architectural language that feels grounded and intentional from every angle.

The outcome

Throughout the project, our clients placed complete trust in the process, allowing the design to unfold with creativity and rigour. That trust gave us the freedom to explore, refine, and ultimately deliver something bold and deeply personal.

Layer House is a story of character reawakened, of space redefined, and of heritage made to work for life today.