Artist’s Victorian house transformed into a sustainable modern house in West Greenwich

This former artist’s home and studio started life the 1830s as a coal merchant’s shop and home. Last updated in the late 1960s, the challenge was to create a low-carbon modern home while retaining the original wonky charm and mid-century touches. 

We used breathable wood-fibre wall and roof insulation, lime plaster and a limewash finish to support the natural breathability of this solid-wall building - a subtle but powerful way to preserve its health and heritage.

A breathable limecrete floor was finished with natural terracotta 'pamment' tiling, with underfloor heating. Combined with whole-home ventilation and triple glazing, the result was to eliminate damp, improve air quality, provide a stable, comfortable temperature and add a rich, organic finish.

Better for the building. Better for the people inside. 

Retrofit of a traditionally-built home is all about the careful use of natural, breathable materials to work with and preserve the original building fabric. Internal wood fibre wall insulation from Steico was finished with lime plaster and breathable paints.

The coach house floor was reconstructed from foamed glass blocks and a low-carbon limecrete in place of the conventional concrete, finished with traditional terracotta ‘pamment’ tiles from Norfolk – a nod to the home-owner/designer’s roots. Modern touches included a huge top floor corner window, overlooking the rooftops of Greenwich all the way to the Cutty Sark.