In this Hampstead house project located in north London, Belgian architect Hans Verstuyft has revitalized the essence of a historic 17th-century cottage that had lost its authentic interior. By creatively incorporating reclaimed materials and distinctive objects, the new design blurs the lines between the old and the new. “We reinvented something that was never there,” he explains.
Tour this Hampstead house project by Hans Verstuyft
The cottage is situated on the estate of Grove Lodge, which belongs to Spanish designer Celia Muñoz, the founder of the children’s clothing brand La Coqueta, along with her husband and their five children. The main residence is connected to the historic Admiral’s House, famously painted by John Constable and previously inhabited by the esteemed 19th-century architect George Gilbert Scott. With frequent visits from family and friends, they needed a cozy guest house that would serve as a harmonious extension and a retreat from their hectic lifestyle.
In this delightful historical setting, the cottage’s exterior and its four pitched roofs have been meticulously preserved, while the interior embraces a fresh, modern aesthetic. Verstuyft relocated the kitchen to a curved extension, incorporating additional windows to enhance the garden views. The design features sculptural stone and wood elements that resemble elegant furniture rather than a traditional kitchen, complete with small ‘stone tablets’ integrated into the walls for shelving. On the upper level, there are four bedrooms, each boasting a distinct bathroom adorned with sinks made from various colored stones.
In the realm of interior architecture, Verstuyft meticulously selected patinated reclaimed materials that have a rich history, aiming to infuse the cottage with a sense of heritage. This includes terracotta tiles, reclaimed oak beams, and stone sourced from the steps of a historic castle in Belgium, much of which he discovered at a reclamation warehouse in Antwerp. This aspect of his methodology is closely tied to sustainability, emphasizing not just the re-use of materials but also their durability, fostering the creation of timeless spaces that harmoniously blend modernity with historical roots.
Curated objects, from vintage furniture, to art and even bed linen, were all taken care of and the result of an ‘intensive search’. The rule was that ‘nothing could look the same’ and the colour palette was inspired by the work of surrealist Giorgio Morandi.
A striking ‘Seven’ blue chair designed by Mart Van Schijndel is featured alongside the leather ‘Seal’ lounge chair by Ib Kofod Larsen, complemented by a coffee table created by artist Carsten in der Elst. Custom-designed elements, including the sofa, dining table, and ‘SpotOn’ brass lighting fixtures, were crafted in-house at Hans Verstuyft Architecten. Additionally, the open shelving systems provide elegant, dimensional frames for personal items and future memories.
📅 Published on: 2025-02-25
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