Alan Higgs Architects

22/01/2021

22/01/2021

For over 25 years, our interventions in London terraced townhouses have usually pursued consistent quarry: open flowing space, multiple-purpose room functions, dematerialised boundaries between inside and out, vertical connectivity. The clients for this home in North London house had other objectives. Their children are growing up, they entertain on a large scale with guests of various ages, the rear elevation faces north and the garden is compact. Proper utility spaces and an entrance for Fido were also priorities. This all generated a cellular layout. Two large rooms are separated by service areas but are linked by a gallery for a concentrated photograph collection hang. The rear elevation while open enough for light and access does not pretend that there is an expansive sun drenched vista to behold. This all suits too the relatively long building footprint. Roof glazing admits further diffuse light, and the elevations are made visually robust by being wrapped in dark metal sheets.

These simple three dimensional sketches helped our clients visualise the kitchen / dining space at the design stage, but they have an additional purpose. They are studies that explore different approaches to colour and tone. They look at what surfaces might be better receding or coming forward. They start to consider a warmer versus a cooler palette. Materials are hinted at and the introduction of a colour is shown. Work in progress.

22/01/2021

We are delighted to have just received planning consent for this new house. Its site is part of an historic cider apple orchard in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The design interprets local tradition, both the simple vernacular stone housing type and the agricultural barns and sheds that form such harmonious, timeless compositions. The floor levels follow the land, with an entrance, utility room and bedroom to the north. Down a few steps finds a single space but with subtle tripartite subdivision. This opens through a wall of glass to a beautiful vista of Dumbleton Hill and the southerly sun. Two bedrooms above have framed views and a bridge looks down into the double-height kitchen. The section maximises ceiling heights within a compact form. Tricks include giving each bedroom a dressing lobby to isolate them acoustically and minimising circulation space.

02/09/2019

Alan Higgs Architects were delighted to be shortlisted in 2017's for Prince Albert Road. Great engineering by and garden by

02/09/2019

http://www.architecturetoday.co.uk/vernacular-spectacular/

A Surrey house by Alan Higgs Architects draws its inspiration from nearby 1930s villas Photos Alan Williams Returning home from living abroad, a young family asked Alan Higgs Architects to design a new house for them in Esher, Surrey. The 600-square-metre scheme is intended to complement the local v...

02/09/2019

Alan Higgs Architects is delighted to be a Finalist in the just announced Architects’ Journal AJ Architecture Awards 2018. The project is our Phase Two work for City & Guilds of London Art School in Kennington. The new space forms a much needed entrance and gallery and connects the formerly disparate parts of the campus. Steel stanchions and cantilever beams are robust and purposeful and suited to a place of creativity and making. This material and the glass roof above forms a double-height volume, recalling the semi-enclosed halls and other places of industry of the Victorian Age - when the Art School was founded. The new roof stops short of the Listed Grade II Georgian houses. This allows the rooms within them to remain naturally ventilated and day lit, and rain continues to enliven their venerable brickwork elevations. @splashofmilk
Photograph by Alan Williams

02/09/2019

alanhiggsarchitects
Here is the kitchen and dining area in our West Kensington House. We have been leaders in rethinking the London terraced townhouse for over 20 years and this example encapsulates many of the attributes our clients ask us to conjure - here out of low, cut-off cellular rooms. We introduced strong connectivity between floors, barriers to the garden are dissolved, consistently used materials make the space feel as large as possible. Night hours are transformed by subtle glowing light. Lighting by .iq structural engineering by kitchen by polished concrete floor by garden design by timber flooring by

19/03/2012

19/03/2012

© Peter Cook Photographer

08/03/2012

08/03/2012

© Peter Cook Photographer

Significant alterations to historic house