A modernist house built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon in Hertfordshire, England, has been given a new life with a renovation by architecture studio Coppin Dockray.Ahm House is the only completed building in the UK by Utzon.Though the house had been well looked after over the years, Coppin Dockray's renovation sees it transformed, with a mix of contemporary and classic designs that stay true to spirit of the original design.

Coppin Dockray approach was to work to highlight the visceral character of the house, to draw attention to the fine material qualities, the shifting play of light on the interior surfaces and to allow the house to be experienced in a simple, intuitive way.Built in 1961, the house contains just one storey above ground, but the floor level is stepped to work with the contours of the landscape.

Thanks to large walls of glazing, materials are visually consistent for the interior and exterior of the building. Pale Aylesbury brick forms the walls, framed by an exposed structure of board-marked concrete. The ceiling and mullions are a warm-toned wood, while the floor both inside and out is a ceramic tile.

Some of the original joinery was in need of repairs, which were carried out carefully in line with Utzon's original drawings.The design team created some bespoke pieces of furniture for the house, including a green marble and walnut coffee table, and a storage unit made from Oregon pine and black linoleum, and also commissioned a series of rugs.