A Hybrid of Typologies – Alexander House by Alexander &CO.

As a hybrid of typologies, Alexander House challenges preconceptions of work and home through an intriguing lens. For Alexander &CO., it is a place that encourages creation and innovation within an experimental live/work framework.

Visually in conversation with its neighbours, Alexander House presents as a typical Victorian-era terrace, sympathetically restored and reinvented as its own unique offering. Alexander &CO. Principal and Founder Jeremy Bull and Marketing Director Tess Glasson reside in the adjoining Victorian terrace with their young family, working and living fluidly between the two houses. Clients, family members, friends, guests, collaborators and creatives are all welcome, inspiring a sense of community.

In response to the changing perceptions of the workplace, the spaces of Alexander House oscillate between being functional and immersive. There’s a traditional studio space, a large kitchen and a dining area opening onto a sun-drenched courtyard, as well as intimate nooks for reading and working.

In response to the changing perceptions of the workplace, the spaces of Alexander House oscillate between being functional and immersive. There’s a traditional studio space, a large kitchen and a dining area opening onto a sun-drenched courtyard, as well as intimate nooks for reading and working. The top floor presents as a residential dwelling – a secluded sanctuary atop a lively hub – with a bedroom and bathroom.

There’s also a library, ice bath and steam shower, among other surprises. A tactile, earthy palette defined by reclaimed timber and rammed earth bricks from recycled materials connects the spaces, while concrete, polished plater, steel, brass and stone elevate each pocket of this multi-level house.

Alongside its exploration of the traditional live/work ideology, Alexander House was conceived as a prototype for sustainability, carbon sequestration and environmental innovation. The architects employed various elements to support this, such as underground tanks; worm farms to process food waste; solar hot water systems; and reclaimed, harvested and re-used timber. What’s more, the architecture itself became the subject of environmental exploration with heat mitigating devices and cross ventilation seamlessly incorporated into the design. A west-facing glass block wall section allows for light without the harsh heat, and an externally insulated wall system creates a stable internal ambient temperature, ensuring ease and comfort.

Alexander &CO.’s Alexander House is akin to an experimental laboratory where work is defined by conversation and collaboration. The personal and professional lines are undoubtedly blurred – to just the right degree.