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Woodbury

In Barnet, North London, the Woodbury House tells the story of an octogenarian's embrace of change. As a new-build house, it was transformed from an existing extension from an Edwardian property by applying the concept of architectural mirroring.

The architectural concept draws inspiration from decalcomania - the art of creating mirror patterns through folded paint. However, this mirroring is not mere replication. The new structure responds thoughtfully to practical necessities: the ground floor follows the natural site levels, whilst a continuous thermal envelope ensures modern efficiency. An accessible bedroom and bathroom for her on the ground floor. Living spaces flow naturally between cooking and dining areas, creating rooms filled with light from multiple aspects.


The most common example of decalcomania involves applying paint to paper then folding it, applying pressure and then unfolding the paper to reveal a mirror pattern. In architecture, this doesn’t mean to completely replicate the existing, but it will be practical needs that steer the design decisions. Materials tell their own story of continuity: handmade burgundy bricks from Cumbria converse with the existing house, while rosemary terracotta tiles from the demolished music room find new life in the build. Inside, elm floorboards from the original structure have been transformed into kitchen cabinetry, each element carrying forward the building's memory while embracing its future. The project's commissioner, Kathryn, approached the build with the pioneering spirit that characterised modernist architects. Rather than growing old amongst accumulated memories, she chose to curate select pieces from her past - handwoven shawls, Edwardian furniture, and her late husband's handcrafted rosewood table - for their new context. The house achieves environmental performance through Passivhaus principles, incorporating mineral wool insulation, mechanical ventilation heat recovery, and an air source heat pump. Photovoltaic panels and strategic cross-ventilation further reduce energy consumption.




LOCATION
Barnet, London, UK

STATUS
Completed, 2024

SCOPE
New-build Residential Home
RIBA Stage 0-6

DESIGN TEAM
Architect / Of Architecture
Planning Consultant / PlainView
Structural Eng. / Geared Partnership
Civil Eng. / Geared Partnership
M&E Eng. / TBK Projects
Cost Consultant / KM Dimensions (Stage 4-5), Tim Hall Quantity Survey (Stage 2)
Arbriculturalist / Tree Sense Arboricultural Consultants
Ecologist / Aven Ecology

PHOTOGRAPHY
Lorenzo Zandri





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