The Wee House
Laystall Street, London EC1

£815,000
Freehold

Architect: Joe Wright Architects

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“A masterful use of space inside and out”

Situated in the heart of Clerkenwell, this architect-designed house effortlessly pairs bold modern attitudes with its sturdy Victorian heritage. A creative use of a slim site, the house unfolds across five storeys and is topped with a beautifully planted (and sweet-smelling) roof terrace. Farringdon station is a 10-minute walk away, with the City also in close proximity.

The Tour

The Wee House was commissioned by its current owner, who saw the potential in building in the space between two buildings, which had previously been occupied by a shop. Deep blocks of pre-cast concrete were placed on the front façade, around a new front door and deep-set glazing. The work was undertaken by contractor Beam Development and was built to a design by architect Joe Wright.

Functionality and comfort are at the forefront of the house’s design, with each floor dedicated to a particular purpose: cooking, eating, relaxing, sleeping and working. Its triangular shape allows light in from the front aspect, which is added to by a retractable skylight at the top of the house. As part of the redesign, an extension was added to the rear space over four floors, creating two wet rooms, a library space and a utility room.

Entry is to the kitchen, first passing a curtain track used to hide a space for hanging coats. White cabinets house integrated appliances, including a De Deitrich hob, Lamona oven, built in microwave and dishwasher plus a fridge/freezer. Hardwearing grey vinyl flooring runs underfoot, pairing elegantly with the broader colour scheme. A glazed front-facing window provides atmospherically metropolitan street views.

The house’s layout has been cleverly conceived to make the most of its context. The living areas unfold across the top storeys to capitalise on its elevated position. On the first floor, there is a beautiful dining room painted in ‘Card Room Green’ by Farrow and Ball with a large, double-glazed sash window. The restful living room is on the second floor; finished in ‘Pelt’ by Farrow and Ball, it has another sash window that affords dramatic views down Theobalds Road. This room can also double up as a guest room, if necessary.

Cosy and atmospheric, the entire lower-ground floor is given over to a peaceful bedroom. Glass bricks and a low-level window usher in natural light, which is in turn scattered about by a mirrored wall.

There are two wet rooms, both characterised by smart finishings and a considered use of space.

Outside Space

Accessed via sliding doors from the bright top-floor study, a secluded walled roof garden sits at the top of the house. A divine planting scheme includes an acer, winter flowering clematis, sweet-smelling jasmine and honeysuckle, providing a particularly fragrant spot to sit and sip a morning coffee.

The Area

Laystall Street is superbly situated just north of Farringdon, east of Bloomsbury and close to the peaceful green space of Coram’s Fields. It is within the Hatton Garden Conservation Area, designed to protect the area’s historic character and its many “robustly detailed industrial, commercial and residential buildings of the late 19th to mid-20th centuries”.

Clerkenwell was recently named the London winner of The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2024. It has a brilliant mid-week street food market, where great coffee options include Profrock and Attendant Coffee Roasters. We’ve written about our Clerkenwell recommendations in greater depth in our Journal.

Other neighbourhood Clerkenwell spots include restaurants like The Eagle (the first gastro pub in London), the much-loved Moro and the original outpost of Caravan can be counted among the excellent local offerings. The Brunswick Centre, a Grade II-listed masterpiece is a five-minute cycle away and is home to a large Waitrose supermarket and Curzon cinema. Only slightly further afield are the theatres of Soho and Covent Garden, with  Sadlers Wells Theatre and the Barbican’s arts centre even closer to home.

Laidback Lamb’s Conduit Street, with its independent restaurants and boutiques, is less than a 10-minute walk away; favourites here include the culinary institution Ciao Bella and the celebrated wine bar Noble Rot.

Farringdon Station is a nine-minute walk and is serviced by the Hammersmith and City, Circle, and Metropolitan and Elizabeth Underground lines, as well as National Rail. For the City, Liverpool Street is five minutes away by tube, while Heathrow can be reached in around 35 minutes. International rail travel connects to Europe from nearby St Pancras and several bus routes run along neighbouring streets in all directions, including neighbouring Islington.

Council Tax Band: E

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.



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