Ladderstile House / ThreefoldArchitects

Jun 2009

By Karen Cilento — Filed under: Architecture News ,Residential ,Sustainability , Ladderstile House, London, Richmond Park, ThreefoldArchitects

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Designed by ThreefoldArchitects, the Ladderstile House, an eco-friendly large residence in Richmond Park, London, is arranged around an internally landscape courtyard. The home’s volumes open to external areas creating a unified residence with the exterior and interior complimenting each other.

More images and more about the residence after the break.

“The volumes are arranged on the site to exploit natural light throughout day. The plan sets up a central landscaped courtyard with a series of satellite courtyards spread around the site, to create a diverse range of connections to different external rooms, and views through and in between the building, into spaces beyond, through the glazing, the perforated steel and timber screens,” explained the architects.

Built from a solid timber system, exposed beams span the length of the first floor to divide the home’s more private and public living spaces, connected by an indoor swimming pool. The timber provides structural support for the two separate volumes on the first floor, while in the courtyard, the extended beams create a sense of enclosure and privacy. ”The use of gluelam for the structural beams and the solid timber superstructure that form the structural walls of the house both at ground and first floor have allowed us to create the very large spans and cantilevers that give the house its structural dynamism. Additionally this off-site method of construction leads to rapid erection of the superstructure on site,” explained the architects.

The transparent spaces under the beams easily connect visually and physically with the exterior. The upper floor, however, is clad in stainless steel perforated panels which act as shutters to provide privacy for the master and second bedrooms. The materiality difference between the first and the second floors of the home creates the effect that the residence solely consists of the upper volume resting on the timber beams. Although the panels do not allow the user to be as connected to the exterior as the first level, their shutter design allows the user to overlook the smaller courtyard areas the home offers.

In an effort to create an environmentally friendly residence, green roofs with hydroponic vertical gardens clad the living room, while heat exchanges that utilize the constant ground temperature provide all energy required.

For more information, visit the official site of The Ladderstile House.

As seen on dezeen. Photographs are by Nick Kane and Jon Holland.

Note: The home owner also worked with H2design to develop the interior.