design et al are delighted to announce that Thompson + Baroni Architects have won the Residential Architectural Property Award in The International Design and Architecture Awards 2017.
This project involved the complete overhaul and renovation of a detached Edwardian villa which needed rescuing from a tired 70’s makeover to be replaced by a luxurious family home for the 21st century. Thompson + Baroni Architects tackled this project in three distinct phases: renovate the house – a new roof and glass walled rear extension of 150m2 and a complete replacement of all interiors including the bathrooms and kitchen. The second phase was further enhancements to the interior of the house, landscaping of the front and rear gardens, construction of the swimming pool, outdoor barbeque and shower area in the rear garden and construction of a new detached gymnasium in a style sympathetic to the main house and a subterranean car lift in the front. The third phase was the interior design fit out including furnishings, art, bespoke walk-in wardrobe area and walnut panelled study with live coral aquarium. 
Thompson + Baroni Architect’s favourite aspect of the project was the original Edwardian house which was lovingly and sympathetically restored and repaired acts as the elegant and enduring heart of the home that allowed the architects to make so many additions and changes but without losing the original spirit of the house both as the elegantly proportioned villa in itself but also as a presence on the road and within the context of the neighbouring buildings and landscape. The design works so well because it harmonises the new 21st Century luxury additions with the 100-year-old building structure clearly enhancing the character and appearance of the building.
To the rear of the house more dramatic things could happen with large walls of glass and frameless skylights maximising the natural light and allowing dramatic views of nature to enter the building. The external brickwork walls were constructed using bricks, mortar and pointing to match the existing house yet the glass panels to the rear doors had to be lifted over the house by a crane- the two extremes of the skills required to deliver this amazing house. The foundations of the gymnasium building were designed to avoid the tree roots of the magnificent trees of the garden.
This house reconciles the desire to have modern, light-infused spaces within the constraint of wanting to live in certain areas of the country where knocking down and building a new house is sometimes not an option. The transition experienced moving through the house from the front of the property to the rear has been equated to being transported from leafy SW London to sunny LA in a matter of a few minutes!