The Old Dairy by Thomas De Cruz Architects
Thomas De Cruz Architects provided a contemporary design for the remodel of this Victorian home in south-west London.
From Thomas De Cruz:
The Old Dairy in Wandsworth is an example of an unassuming Victorian building that has been transformed into a stunning contemporary home. The rear has been opened up to draw the garden into the house and to flood the previously dingy Victorian interior with an abundance of natural light.
Visit the website of Thomas De Cruz Architects – here.
Visit the website of Thomas De Cruz Architects – here.
Speedmaster on 06 Jan 2009 at 6:42 am #
Absolutely beautiful! The exterior pic is fantastic.
Rosie on 06 Jan 2009 at 4:30 pm #
I love the bedroom! That would be a dream to have one like that.
Earl on 06 Jan 2009 at 4:42 pm #
This is terrible. It doesn’t even fit into the environment. What a sore thumb. Maybe if this was built in Malibu it’d be acceptable, but in a Victorian neighborhood?
Alan Scott on 06 Jan 2009 at 6:29 pm #
Earl, Victorian architecture is over, and it’s not coming back. This is reality.
Personally, I think it looks great, and would prefer to own and live in this home than any of the surrounding homes. Nice work by the architects!
Earl on 06 Jan 2009 at 8:05 pm #
Alan:
I’m not saying it doesn’t look great. I would love to have a home like this. I’m simply stating that it doesn’t fit into the environment. Would you build a log home in the middle of New York?
Alan Scott on 06 Jan 2009 at 9:26 pm #
The contemporary addition might not match the other Victorian homes, but it’s the Victorian houses that don’t fit into the 21st century. The contemporary addition makes sense for living today. So it’s the Victorian architecture that doesn’t fit anymore, not the contemporary.
Seems to me there’s only three choices in this situation:
1. Build nothing and let the house fall apart.
2. Build in a fake historical style that always ends up looking very tacky.
3. Build contemporary.
What would you choose?
Tom on 08 Jan 2009 at 5:16 pm #
i agree with Alan Scott.. we are living in a modern world.. where we should be looking towards the future.. people should not feel that they need to stick to vernacular design and have a home like what is around! we should be challenging the rules of architecture.. or we will be stuck with the same old housing all the time..
and why not build a log home in New York.. it would be different and stand out.. and standing out is a good thing. within reason…
william charlson on 12 Jan 2009 at 2:15 pm #
did you use NaNa doors, we wanting to build here in myrtle beach coast and have that bring the outdoor in feel.
If you did not use these type doors, could you suggest something else.
Martin on 20 Jan 2009 at 3:33 am #
Am I the only one that loves his privacy?
Peter Thomas de Cruz on 13 Feb 2009 at 5:13 pm #
If by ‘it doesn’t even fit in’ Earl means it is not as dark and dingy and space starved as the Victorian houses that surround it then I would agree with him. The front of the house, however, including the front rooms on both levels, remains Victorian. It ‘fits in’ in Earl’s terms.
The back is a breathe of fresh, a relief from the pokey, Victorian cellular living which is short on natural light. The proof of its success was the silly sum that the client sold it for. People will pay a premium for contemporary light and space in the claustrophobic city because it is so rare and because it is so uplifting to the spirits.
Contemporary additions to old properties can bring new life to homes that are well past their sell by date.