Enduring Charm – Paddington Townhouse by Hecker Guthrie
Carrying forward a richly layered past, Paddington Townhouse draws from a lineage of handcrafted insertions that enrich the quality and character of the home. Hecker Guthrie redefines the interior, realigning flow of movement whilst respecting key gestures that tie the current home to its past.
Through the careful consideration of the architects, Paddington Townhouse retains the elements that have shaped its existing charm. Whilst fusing the past and present, a consideration of the future and how best to continue the layered narrative was vital. Underpinned by longevity and a connection to authenticity, the approach sees a revised set of principles ensure an appropriate homage was put in place. The Victorian-era detailing and delicate ornateness are balanced with a sense of restraint and contemporary interpretation of craft, where Hecker Guthrie integrates both a light touch to the encasing architecture and weaves in new insertions that act as an evolution of the previous.
The key was to bring in additional natural light and enhance the feeling of scale and generosity from within. By overlaying a muted and monochromatic palette throughout the existing spaces, the matched functionality of each is then aligned with an appropriate saturation of tone. The main formal living room, for example, becomes awash with a darker grey palette, creating a feeling of immersion and increased intimacy, whereas the main corridor is lighter in tone and aims to elongate the proportions already in place. Together with a nature inspired palette, warmth is carefully brought inward through the timber flooring running underfoot.
The kitchen also marks a deviation from the more anticipated lightness applied to a heritage home and instead brings a richness in the depth through the timber stain used within the custom joinery. Together with the muddied greys of the stone and handmade ceramic tiles across the back wall and splashback, the grey base of the space allows the timber pieces to remain the feature. Replacing what would have originally been singularly introduced pieces of furniture in the cooking and preparation space, the new proposal is one that remains contained to a series of connected forms. The difference in the new iteration is that each also connects to the haptics of crafting individual pieces yet uses a more contemporary and innovative sensibility.
By focusing on key moments as destinations for immersion and longer stays, the Japanese-inspired tones within Paddington Townhouse are almost a heat map based on usage, with the lighter spaces used less frequently. Through an acute attention to detail, Hecker Guthrie heightens the setting of the heritage home with moments that invite interaction.
