Architecture for London has updated a 1960s house in London, creating an open-plan interior filled with natural materials and an improved connection to the rear courtyard garden.The house is one of two detached properties set in a modernist estate in Primrose Hill that primarily consists of painted brick courtyard houses and small terraces.The new owner asked Architecture for London to transform the interior into a modern layout that is better suited to their lifestyle.

The remodelled interior improves the connection with the garden by incorporating a large picture window in the kitchen, along with sliding wood-framed doors in the living area.The ground floor also contains a smaller reception area next to the entrance hall, with folding doors allowing this space to be separated from the kitchen and dining area.

A bespoke blackened-steel staircase provides access to four bedrooms on the first floor, including a main suite with a juliet balcony overlooking the garden.Following a detailed cost and sustainability review, a decision was made to demolish all of the property's interior walls and rebuild them in order to achieve the required spaces.

The home's first-floor plate was replaced using steel beams and timber joists to enable the demolition of the ground-floor walls and the opening up of the interior.The project also involved the addition of a timber-framed rooftop extension, clad with white-painted brick to tie in with the rest of the house and set back so it's largely hidden from view.The extension contains a flexible mezzanine space for yoga and meditation that is accessed from the main bedroom suite.

Throughout the home, Architecture for London applied a pared-back palette of natural materials that is intended to create a sense of calmness and connection with the garden.Internal walls treated with breathable lime plaster provide a neutral backdrop for furniture designed by architect Christian Brailey, which includes a dining table made from locally sourced London plane trees.