West Wimbledon has been a highly desirable area for families for many years, but as the area becomes more and more populated, finding a family home that gives you the space you need, in the right location, when most buildings were built in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods become challenging.
In 2010 Indigo Development Limited, Malone Architecture Limited and Hawes & Co, came together to build the perfect home for the modern family, which led to an award for the best individual dwelling at this year’s Local Authority Building Control (LABC’s), London Building Excellence Awards.
“Team work was the key to winning this award” – said Keith Malone from Malone Architecture. “When I was first approached by Indigo I saw an opportunity to build a modern home to meet the needs of the many professional families that are looking to live in the area. I was inspired by the challenge of creating a home that not only addressed the desire of families for open plan living, but would be in keeping with the Edwardian and 1930’s architecture of West Wimbledon, and was empathetic to the local conservation areas of Wimbledon.”
“It was important to work with the local residents, Merton Council Planning Department and sustainability advisors to ensure that we built a home that would be in keeping with the surrounding buildings and meet the latest codes in sustainable living.”
Working together Malone Architecture and Indigo built an arts and crafts period style 7 bedroom, 4 receptions, and 6 bathroom home, with a spacious open plan kitchen/breakfast room with open-plan family room. In addition there is a lower ground floor with lots of natural light with family room, gymnasium and cinema. Importantly the house is built to Sustainable Homes Code 4 standard, which incorporates a high level of insulation and airtightness throughout with renewable energy and water recycling. There are photovoltaic (solar) panels on the roof which generate electricity and a rainwater harvesting tank under the garden.
To ensure the home harmonised with its surroundings it was important to have an understanding of Edwardian period buildings and their detailing. Indigo employed traditional techniques including handmade clay tiles on the roof, traditional leadwork, pointing with lime mortar and period mouldings for the cornice to achieve an appropriate finesse.
Martin Down from Indigo said; “working in partnership with Malone Architecture to combine modern and traditional best practice, in conjunction with Hawes and Co’s expert knowledge of the needs of the local prospective buyers helped ensure this project was a success. We are incredibly proud to have won the award from the LABC, but are most proud to see the house become a home and the pleasure the family living there gain from it.”
LABC Chief Executive Paul Everall said “This home is a fantastic example of a traditionally styled, yet modern home, built in an extremely sustainable way that exceeds standards. The cooperation between Merton’s building control team and the developer made for a smooth trouble free build and a very high quality finished home.”
The house now belongs to Mr and Mrs Schartner who have three young children and have been living there since January 2013. They had been looking for a home that combined open space and minimal interior design with the traditional look and feel of the area on the outside. “The quality of the finish as well as the design of the house are exceptional. Also, the level of service from Indigo Development is first class.”
