projects | Viabizzuno progettiamo la luce

hampstead is one of the greenest london suburbs; it is not the typical setting for a modern house combining powerful architecture with design features in timber, stone and glass.the building firm kearsley has shown itself to be an enlightened client and asked pennington phillips to design a house capable of maximising the use of light and space but that would blend in with its surroundings in a sympathetic manner. kearsley were keen on the idea of building a peaceful retreat just a few minutes away from central london. the architects wanted to exploit the potential of natural light in the best way possible, making full use of glass for the purpose. to control the temperature and reverberation, the porch is screened with skylights in cedar wood that, apart from affording privacy to the bedrooms, give a golden hue to the daylight shining through the windows. in the bedroom area, the lighting counters the coldness of the glass. the m1 medio fittings permeate the ceiling with diffused light, while the m1 micro fittings, lighting from above, skim the doors of the furniture. the m4 recessed fittings illuminate the walls behind the bath from below, while the use of dimming systems enables the lighting temperature to be controlled and, by increasing it, to simulate a candle effect, creating a sense of intimacy that is often lost in modern interiors. the long, narrow shape of the kitchen is lit by a long fissure of glass (5.5 metres), which floods the work surface with light, though maintaining a sense of privacy, while the glass walls at either end create the illusion of being outside. the c1 recessed profiles and m1 micro fittings at 90°, lighting from above, intersect on the ceiling creating a play of light, contrasting with the strong architectural lines of the interior. pennington phillips created a double height entrance area that is wreathed in natural light from the two walls of glass. a sculptural black concrete fireplace extends from floor to ceiling, its dominating appearance softened by a projecting shelf. a mezzanine floats above the dining table, providing a space for peaceful meditation. two m6 fittings provide light from above, illuminating both the architecture and the works of art. low down on the wall, the m1 micro fittings at 45° and the m4 fittings in the floor combine with the wall mounted triple light, giving a subtle diffuse effect. the dancing flames add a further, enthralling dimension to the lighting.