tsuruta architects' house of trace in london exposes structural history

tsuruta architects’ house of trace in london exposes structural history
photography by tim crocker

‘house of trace’ is the intervention and renewal of an original extension to a private home by the london-based firm tsuruta architects. a structural dialog has been created between the fabric of the previous structure and this new addition with its own identity. during construction, as the remnants of the old building were slowly peeled back and taken away, interesting elements were uncovered from the original fabric, the history has inherently been exposed and translated to the new addition. from the backyard, the façade of tsuruta’s design is defined by the sloped-roof form that has been fossilized contrasting against the lighter brick wall- like a memory or homage. the concept of delicate preservation has been transitioned internally, where old cracks has been purposely exposed within the corridor meanwhile the bare plaster finish is retained in the bedroom’s walls, offering a raw connection between past and present. the materials and furnishing convey a make-shift, flat-packed approach, where straightforward, low-cost building materials such as MDF, plywood is consistently used in the the chairs, zig-zagged bed frame, storage components and other subtly engraved details allowing the extension to form its own identity.

bespoke bed with a zig-zagged plywood base
image © tim crocker

large window opening allowing plenty of natural light and view of the rear garden
image © tim crocker

linear arrangement of lounge, kitchen and dining
image © tim crocker

storage components have been built into the space
image © tim crocker

copper tap details
image © tim crocker

image © tim crocker

the skylight encases the old and new which has been left exposed
image © tim crocker

zig-zagged base seen in the bed also used in other furnishing components
image © tim crocker

exposed brick wall of the hallway (left) bathroom (right)
image © tim crocker

image © tim crocker

the façade of the extension
image © tim crocker

the rest of the house is seen alongside its new addition
image © tim crocker