Victorian Terrace Renovation Hackney

A Contemporary Take on a Victorian Terrace Renovation in Hackney

When it comes to blending heritage charm with cutting-edge sustainability, few projects capture the spirit of craftsmanship and modern design as beautifully as the Victorian terrace renovation Hackney by London-based studio Archmongers. This project isn’t just a house upgrade—it’s a profound architectural reimagination of what a historic home can become in the 21st century.

Preserving History While Embracing the Future

Located in a conservation area in Dalston, Hackney, Ray House is a classic Victorian terrace that has been transformed into a light-filled, energy-efficient, and deeply personal residence. The three-storey home previously suffered from all the ailments typical of aged London housing: a dark and fragmented layout, poor thermal insulation, and inefficient energy use.

The owners—both creatives in graphic design and illustration—saw beyond these challenges. Their brief to Archmongers was both technical and artistic: reconfigure the space for better flow and performance, while weaving in bespoke, handmade elements that speak to their appreciation for art and craft.

Architectural Intervention: Light, Connection, and Flow

The architectural strategy at the core of this Victorian terrace renovation Hackney is one of connection. Rather than treating each level as a separate entity, the design team focused on stitching the floors together through spatial clarity and vertical circulation.

The most dramatic move came at the lower ground floor, which now opens up to a lush garden via large sliding glass doors. This level, previously a dark, underused basement, is now a bright, skylit study and informal living space. The integration of a skylight here was more than a technical solution—it introduced a subtle emotional resonance, bathing the space in diffused natural light that changes with the time of day.

Above, both the ground and first floors were modestly extended to the rear, allowing the central timber staircase to shift further into the floorplan. This re-centering opened up the core of the house and allowed natural light to penetrate deeper into the structure, softening its formerly rigid Victorian hierarchy of rooms.

The study and living area are lit by a skylight + A decorative concrete frieze fronts the extension

Material as Narrative

A standout feature of this renovation is the use of Douglas fir for the staircase and surrounding joinery. Designed and crafted by furniture maker Charles Tepasse, the staircase becomes a sculptural anchor within the home. But its role is more than visual—it’s experiential. Each step, each touchpoint, offers a tactile reminder of material honesty and skilled craftsmanship.

This wood also forms the backbone of the home’s bespoke interior detailing: door frames, windowsills, wardrobes, and even a custom-built bed frame. This consistency of material provides visual calm and a sense of cohesion, making the home feel considered, curated, and intimate.

Reimagining the Past: The Frieze

One of the most poetic moments in this Victorian terrace renovation Hackney is the introduction of a custom concrete frieze designed by the clients themselves. Inspired by traditional Victorian plasterwork, the pale yellow concrete tiles now crown the rear façade, adding texture, character, and a deeply personal layer of narrative.

This addition avoids pastiche. Instead, it reinterprets history through a contemporary material language—celebrating ornament not as decoration, but as meaning.

From Gas to All-Electric Living

Beyond aesthetics, the transformation prioritizes sustainability. The original property featured single-glazed windows, gas heating, and outdated insulation. The renovated Ray House is now a high-performance, all-electric home with upgraded glazing, improved airtightness, and passive solar design strategies.

Such sustainable retrofits are particularly crucial in a borough like Hackney, where many homes are heritage listed and thus harder to adapt to modern environmental standards. The success of this project proves that with thoughtful design and a clear vision, green architecture can respect and revive historical context.

Celebration of Craftsmanship and Collaboration

What truly elevates this project beyond typical refurbishment is its deep collaboration between architect, client, and artisan. The clients’ involvement—especially in designing the concrete frieze—underscores how the home is a reflection of their creative identities. It’s this synergy that makes the result not just functional but emotionally resonant.

Moreover, the decision to reuse original features, like marble fireplace surrounds repurposed into stair treads, adds a sustainable and narrative depth to the home’s material story. These aren’t just recycled elements; they’re memory embedded in matter.

The ground and first floors were extended to the rear + A timber staircase connects the home’s floors

Architectural Reflection: A New Model for Urban Living

This Victorian terrace renovation Hackney isn’t a flashy transformation. It doesn’t rely on oversized glass boxes or gratuitous extensions. Instead, it’s a lesson in intelligent reconfiguration and material subtlety. The project embraces the constraints of conservation while pushing the potential of contemporary living.

Architecturally, it challenges the trope of hyper-modern intervention in old homes. Rather than stripping the past away, Archmongers uses it as a foundation for new thinking—infusing the house with light, purpose, and quiet elegance.

Final Thoughts: Beyond the Surface

While this project is a technical and aesthetic success, what’s most compelling is its layered approach. It asks: what happens when renovation becomes collaboration? When materiality becomes meaning? When sustainability doesn’t shout, but whispers through warm wood, light, and lived space?

In an era where Victorian renovations are often either sterile or pastiche, Ray House offers a refreshing alternative: thoughtful, original, and deeply rooted in both place and people.

And that’s a blueprint worth revisiting.

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Photos: Jim Stephenson.