This material palette for the new duplex apartment in a 19th Century townhouse explores the balance between history, performance, sustainability and visual richness.
Oak, a UK-grown hardwood with timeless and enduring appeal is a unifying material. Solid oak is reserved for the staircase, where structural integrity matters. Carefully detailed open edge treads and riser, structural posts and handrail. Large surface areas of flooring, wall panelling and joinery are realised in engineered or veneered boards to minimise the use of virgin timber.
This is also a study in variations and texture. There are rift-sawn patterns of clean vertical grain and the refined consistency of prime oak. For the main, open-plan space these are layered with the dark-stained, crown-cut oak to help distinguish between different zones. In the smaller spaces like bathrooms the contrasting, complementary materials like tiles and plaster create a well-balanced dialogue between warmth and tactility.
