Hidden House
Huge Windows and Rooflights in Clerkenwell
A two-bedroom New Build Home next to a Grade II listed ex Schoolhouse within a sensitive Heritage site, designed respectfully to connect with the community gardens.
Hidden House, situated in London’s Clerkenwell Green Conservation Area, is an elegant, one-storey family residence. Its setting, a former caretaker’s shed and atop prison vaults of the Grade II-listed Clerkenwell House of Detention, presents an intriguing historical context.
Despite a compact 72-square-metre footprint, the property skilfully balances privacy, light, and space, a best, design-led response to the challenging urban constraints. A thoughtful blend of reclaimed brick and oak panelling enhances its harmony with the historic environment, while polished concrete and bespoke oak furniture introduce a contemporary touch.
Key architectural features include a minimalist punched roof with ocular rooflights, a renowned element that affords ample natural light without sacrificing privacy. The master bedroom’s mechanically opening rooflight offers a unique interaction with the sky. Full-length sliding windows and doors integrate the main living area with the shared garden and a private patio.
Hidden House, composed of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a combined living/dining area, exemplifies a careful and top-tier approach to design within a compact, urban context.
Craft : Oak Panelling
The Hidden House seamlessly integrates with its surroundings, largely due to the careful use of uniform London Stock Brick, reclaimed and painstakingly hand-carried on-site in respect to the listed vaults below. This attention to detail extends to the interior, where the oak panelling aligns perfectly with the geometrical features of the punched roof and the precision cuts in the beautifully finished power floated concrete floor. This award-winning craftsmanship underscores the design-focused execution and precision of the plan.
Light : Punched Geometric Roof
The interior of Hidden House is distinguished by an encompassing wall of oak panelling, which sets the stage for a transparent floating roof. This punched roof designates the living spaces beneath, all of which are awash with natural light. Ocular rooflights not only offer views of the sky but also frame the ornate exterior of the neighbouring former school building. Complementing this, vertical sliding doors in the front elevation provide inviting vistas into an expansive, sustainably maintained shared garden.
