Natural Selection: homes designed using natural materials
During our chat with environmental psychologist Lily Bernheimer about how domestic spaces can provide a sense of wellbeing, it became clear that the incorporation of materials like wood and stone are particularly effective at creating a restful home. In (natural) light of this, we’ve put together a collection of homes designed using natural materials.
Eagle Mansions, Salcombe Road, London N16
This two-bedroom flat in Dalston is proof that architecture for wellbeing is not defined by having lots of outdoor space. The kitchen is fitted with beautiful marble surfaces, as is the bathroom, where soft grey-coloured tiles have been used to create a restful effect.
Orchard Flower Farm, Penzance, Cornwall
The timber-framed extension of this secluded house near Penzance draws inspiration from its woodland environs. A covered balcony that runs along the length of one side of the house has views over the garden and merges indoor and outdoor spaces, establishing a connection to the natural environment.
The Penthouse, Isokon Building, London NW3
Wood takes centre stage in the Penthouse of the Isokon Building, widely recognised as one of the finest achievements of Modern Movement architecture in the UK. Rich birch-veneer panelling covers the walls, and honey-coloured timber floors are arranged in a chequerboard pattern.
Kilburn Lane, London W9
“The idea was to have a soulful, crafted space without using white everywhere. We used plaster from Yorkshire, where the aggregate comes out grey. It gives a sense of movement and texture,” said architect Duncan McLeod about his raw plaster walls when we visited his west London home and studio.
Patshull Road, London NW5
This period house in Kentish Town was thoughtfully remodelled by Block Architecture, who installed a stone fireplace in the dining room as an elegant focal point. Meanwhile, the rear extension houses a light-fed main reception room laid with stone tiles that run seamlessly to the rear garden through vast glazed doors.
Kenilworth, Warwickshire
This iconic house was designed by the architect Robert Harvey, who was praised by Historic England for his “considerable attention to detail” and “use of high-quality materials”. Such materials include Horton Cotswold Stone, which forms the basis of the building’s construction and its rich colours are exposed in the spectacular entrance hall.
Clay House, Monnery Road, London N19
This maisonette in Tufnell Park was masterfully reimagined by architect Simon Astridge. The house is known as ‘Clay House’ due to the many layers of natural clay plaster that have been applied to the walls and ceilings using a Japanese technique called Arakabe. The result is a beautifully textured and atmospheric interior.
Wood House, Surrey
“There was an underlying desire to make the building overtly modern in its interpretation and use of material, which we chose to blend in with the woodland. We used dark bricks and natural timber cladding so that over time the house will blend itself into the surrounding trees” said architect Jason Syrett during our trip to his sustainable family home for our ‘My Modern House’ series.
Read more: Environmental psychologist Lily Bernheimer on how architecture affects wellbeing
