Retrofit scheme has retained 70% of building’s original structure
Satish Jassal Architects has unveiled its transformation of a former horse stable and MOT garage in north London into a two-bedroom home.
The retrofit project has converted the long-vacant single-storey brick building, located within a conservation area in Islington, into a compact 74sq m dwelling now called Brumby House.
The design has retained around 70% of the existing building including much of its aged brick structure, which has been repaired, while bricks removed during the creation of new openings have been reused elsewhere in the building.
Practice director Satish Jassal said the project was “about finding value in what already exists”.
“This building has had several lives, from horse stable to MOT garage, and its next life is as a carefully crafted home. At the same time consideration of its future use has been factored into the design.
“We wanted to retain the character of its aged and layered brick structure while creating a warm, generous and highly detailed place to live. The marks, repairs, painted reveals and changes within the existing fabric are part of the building’s history, and we did not want to erase them,” he said.
The retained brick shell has been matched with a natural palette of oak, terrazzo and polished plaster beneath a coffered ceiling of oak glulam beams.
The home includes an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, two private amenity areas, and a bathroom and service core hidden behind a set of plaster and oak-framed panels.
A small courtyard at the rear brings daylight and views of planting into the deepest part of the house while sculptural rooflights, a glazed roof and carefully positioned openings draw in additional light.
The home is net zero in operation with high-performance insulation, waterproofing and glazing, underfloor heating, photovoltaic panels, a green roof and an air source heat pump.
Jassal added: “Small sites like this are often overlooked, but they are part of London’s story. With care, they can provide new homes without losing the history, texture and character that make our neighbourhoods distinctive.
“Brumby House shows how sensitive retrofit, compact planning and careful craftsmanship can transform an underused backland building into a sustainable new home while enhancing the conservation area around it.”
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