Waghorn Street by Emil Eve Architects

ByJon Dykstra Houses

A woman is sitting quietly reading a book in the spacious, naturally lit home.

Photography: Nick Dearden

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About Studio

Emil Eve Architects is an award-winning East-London-based studio, established in 2009 by Ross and Emma Perkin. We create imaginative and inspiring buildings and spaces for people who love architecture – from design-focused homeowners to creatively-driven developers and commercial clients.

We have a deep appreciation for both historic and contemporary architecture and extensive experience of combining the two. Our diverse portfolio includes housing, cultural buildings, workspace, and hospitality projects, and exhibition design.

Innovative, ambitious, and pragmatic, we enjoy problem-solving and specialize in challenging briefs – from obtaining complex planning consents to working sensitively with listed buildings. A commitment to sustainability informs all of our work.

The house's entrance features an exposed timber structure, outside cladding, inside joinery, and fixtures, all of which combine to create a unified color scheme inside and out.
The house’s entrance features an exposed timber structure, outside cladding, inside joinery, and fixtures, all of which combine to create a unified color scheme inside and out.
Natural light is directed throughout the day by tall glass doors and deep-framed timber windows, which also form view lines through and across the house.
Natural light is directed throughout the day by tall glass doors and deep-framed timber windows, which also form view lines through and across the house.
The spacious kitchen and dining area, which opens to a walled backyard, has a little inset courtyard.
The spacious kitchen and dining area, which opens to a walled backyard, has a little inset courtyard.
A picture of a spotless kitchen with high glass doors and deep-framed timber windows that let in natural light.
A picture of a spotless kitchen with high glass doors and deep-framed timber windows that let in natural light.
A pleasant upper floor room with a green wall, a spotless wooden floor, and book shelves.
A pleasant upper-floor room with a green wall, a spotless wooden floor, and bookshelves.
The bedroom's permeable lime plaster walls provide the shifting light throughout the day a delicate texture.
The bedroom’s permeable lime plaster walls provide shifting light throughout the day with a delicate texture.
A detailed sideview sketch of the lovely home.
A detailed side-view sketch of the lovely home.

The extension and refurbishment of this four-bed house deliver spaces that feel intimate yet expansive, with custom-built joinery throughout designed by Emil Eve. Sustainable Douglas fir forms the exposed timber structure, exterior cladding, interior joinery, and fittings, creating a cohesive palette inside and out.

On the ground floor, a piano room leads through a small inset courtyard to the generous kitchen and dining space which looks out onto a walled back garden. The rear extension is splayed to maximize solar orientation. Tall glazed doors and deep-framed timber windows direct natural light throughout the day and create view lines through and across the house.

In the courtyard, a concealed mirror between cladding slats visibly extends the exterior space and reflects light deep into the plan. Upstairs, a zinc-clad roof extension creates a bright new bedroom with en suite.

Natural materials bring warmth and a sense of calm to the home, which was designed for a young couple (and their two beloved pet cats). The breathable lime plaster walls give a soft texture to the changing light throughout the day, and earthy terracotta tiles in the back garden complement the color and grain of the Douglas fir.

Close collaboration between the architects and builder allowed for refined detailing in the exposed timber structure, cladding, and joinery. The bespoke crafted elements include an extra-deep window seat that curves along the full length of a wall to form an extended dining bench and the glazed screen wall which connects the piano room to the hall and stairs.

Sustainability was a guiding principle for the project, with a focus on low embodied carbon materials and breathable construction.

By Jon Dykstra · See their LinkedIn.