Douglas Fir House is a minimalist House designed by Christian Brailey in London, UK. Huddled behind a beautiful Edwardian terraced house. Every inch of the home's walls were stained orange by cigarettes, single-pane glass had fallen away from its rotting frame and there was no insulation throughout the place. This results in high levels of moisture and extreme black mold.

A good frame and rich, overgrown private gardens give this property an opportunity to renovate and Christian Brailey's design breathes new life into the existing space. The central hub of the old studio has been transformed into an open-plan kitchen, living area and dining room spanning two floors, making it truly the heart of the home. It forms an L-shaped space that flows to the new extension, maximizing light.

The inadequate kitchen has been repositioned to be replaced by a wide concrete countertop topped by deep Douglas fir plywood units, which are illuminated from above by a three-metre-long roof lamp. The layered design creates a welcome division between the comfortable living space and the functional double height kitchen.

However, the sinking of the new floor area was also a necessary step to avoid the extension affecting the neighbours or the cherished views of Alexandra Palace, which is part of the conservation area. High performance double glazing and natural wood fibre insulation are used throughout the thermal envelope, selected for breathability, acoustic and thermal properties.

Christian Brailey's plan was to increase the footprint of the home by 50% to provide a separate bedroom and the ability to create a second bedroom to cater for the family's growth. The new bedroom is nestled among lush vegetation. The ceiling and exposed beams of Douglas Fir House make this sleeping area very cosy, a feeling that is magnified when it rains, and the sound of light drums comes from the roof, as if in a tent.