Newington House is a four-storey Victorian townhouse in North London, transformed by JHA from a poorly-performing, compartmentalised property into a considered, light-filled family home. The project involved a full-building retrofit, a loft extension, and a complete reconfiguration of the lower ground floor — one of the most significant residential commissions the studio has delivered to date.

The house was in poor condition on purchase. Rising damp to the lower ground, water ingress through the roof, an inadequate bathroom arrangement, and an original plan that failed to take advantage of the building's potential. JHA approached the project with a clear strategy: strip back, improve the fabric, then design with care and restraint.

The lower ground floor was opened into a single generous space — kitchen, dining and garden all connected. Floor levels were adjusted to improve ceiling heights and create level access throughout. The rear wing was entirely rebuilt to a higher thermal and structural standard. Insulation was installed to wall, floor and roof. The gas system was removed and replaced with an air-source heat pump. Historic fabric was retained wherever structurally and aesthetically appropriate — original brickwork and structural timbers were reused to reduce both the carbon and the cost of the build.

The material palette is quiet and durable — natural stone flooring, white-oiled oak joinery, lime plaster walls, and carefully restored period details throughout the upper floors. The result is a home that feels genuinely generous and calm, despite the complexity of the project that produced it.

Newington House was subsequently sold through The Modern House, one of the UK's leading estate agents for architecturally considered homes, reflecting the value that a rigorous architectural approach can add to a residential property. JHA works closely with clients who are renovating with an eye to future sale as well as those creating long-term family homes — the two ambitions are rarely in conflict.

Photography by James Retief. Project completed 2023.