The lattice floor is one of wooden features that fill the interior of Cooper's home, self designed house founders of local practice S2B Studio in the north London.
Situated in the garden of a listed building, Cooper House was designed by the founding couple Studio S2B to reflect the history of the place, which once belonged to a cooper – a master who made barrels.
The two-story home features a timber frame and a natural materials palette dominated by wood trim, designed to evoke a sense of craftsmanship.
According to the studio, these elements also visually resemble ancient wooden temples.
“Cooper House's materiality and restrained palette were inspired by ancient wooden temples to create a calm and harmonious environment,” studio co-founder Joan Lim told Dezeen.
“We used natural materials such as African iroko wood, oak and limestone to enhance the sense of calm and connection with nature.”
The Cooper House is topped with a pitched roof and surrounded by a brick façade dotted with large, evenly spaced windows. These windows frame views of the street outside, which is separated from the house by a brick wall with a black gate.
“The design takes into account the character of the street, using a modest gable roof that blends seamlessly with the architectural form of the area,” Lim said. “The two-story wooden structure with a pitched roof and perforated floor connects the two levels, creating a spacious, airy atmosphere that celebrates the essence of life.”
Inside, Cooper House combines work and living spaces, designed to feel interconnected.
Half of the upper level has a semi-open floor made of African iroko wood planks, creating a connection with the living and dining room on the ground floor. The planks rest on dark gray beams and create a play of natural light throughout the day.
The kitchen is located to one side of the dining room where the perforated ceiling ends, creating a more enclosed space.
“The main objective of the design was to address the changing needs of work and life by challenging traditional spatial dynamics,” Lim explained. “Addressing the changing needs of work and life, especially in light of the pandemic, the design challenges traditional spatial dynamics by connecting the two levels with a perforated floor.”
Wood trim and millwork are featured throughout the home, including floor-to-ceiling cabinets that span an entire wall in the kitchen and master bedroom.
Where the wood joinery does not run along the walls, rough plaster was applied to create a neutral background to enhance the natural feel of the interior.
A custom timber spiral staircase leads upstairs where a spacious veranda rises above the slatted flooring, lit by tall windows and skylights.
“Large roof skylights provide views of the sky, while wide portrait windows offer picturesque views of the garden,” says the studio.
“At night, the slanted space below the ceiling is illuminated by a simple strip of light, keeping the design clean,” it says. “This light diffuses and reflects off the oak trim, making the home glow like a welcoming lantern to the neighborhood.”
The bedrooms and utility rooms are located in the northern part of the house, away from the perforated floor.
Each bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom, with tiled floors and walls that match the grey textured plaster throughout the rest of the house.
Other spaces in the Cooper House include a north-facing terrace located behind the bedrooms, and an art studio that overlooks the backyard and is filled with handcrafted furniture from S2B Studio.
“Designing Cooper House was a deeply personal process for us as a pair of architects,” said Lim. “We meticulously considered every detail, managed the project ourselves, and even made our own furniture in the back art studio, ensuring the home was the perfect balance of practicality and aesthetic serenity.”
Other timber-clad London homes recently featured on Dezeen include: a heritage-listed villa renovated by Proctor & Shaw And Victorian style extension to a house made from natural materials.
Photo by Jay Young.