House of the Year (up to 2,500 sq. ft)
Winner : “House of Reflection" by YARD Architects
The House of Reflection, located in the Westbourne conservation area in the London Borough of Westminster, is a masterful response to a challenging urban site. Designed by YARD Architects this contemporary home balances modern architecture with the site's historical context. The house was conceived as a private sanctuary for an art dealer, serving as both a living space and a gallery.
Replacing a small 1980s house, the design reinstates an original garden wall, concealing the home behind it. The house is inward-looking, organised around a central courtyard that brings light and nature into every room. Mirrors and high-level glazing create intriguing glimpses of the outside world.
The house’s exterior features a layered façade of yellow London brick and white long-format brick, echoing the materials of nearby villas. A brass-mesh-wrapped clerestory, or ‘lantern’ tops the building, bringing in sunlight and ventilation while maintaining privacy.
Inside, the home’s minimalist palette features polished concrete and oak. The main living spaces are on the ground floor, the living room on one side of the courtyard and the kitchen on the other, visually linked with sliding doors.
The basement level includes bedrooms that open directly to the courtyard. The design’s considered use of space and light makes the House of Reflection a serene urban space.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID:
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Skilful and clever design makes full use of every opportunity to create delight and interest to create a tranquil sanctuary from city life. The manipulation of light into the interiors is joyful and uplifting and detailing is crisp and well considered.
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A very clever use of space. Getting the most out of a highly constrained site. Excellently constructed.
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Very very clever. A huge improvement on the street scene. GREAT JOB.
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