Site Specific: Oakley Place
Russian For Fish - London, 2023
London-based practice Russian For Fish have completed the renovation and extension of a first floor apartment in a terraced house in South London. The enlargement of the flat is complimented by a rich colour palette, activated by new skylights and matt and gloss finishes. Deployed in contrasting pairs in different spaces, the strong colours add a rhythm and lively syncopation to the interior.
RFF On the edge of Burgess Park in South London, their first-floor flat in a Victorian terrace had become too cramped for their growing family, and they were very keen to introduce more colour and character into what was a decoratively unremarkable space.
Without undertaking any significant structural alterations, Russian for Fish’s extension and reconfiguration of the flat added an extra bedroom while also introducing much-needed practical storage space. Where before the owners had been obliged to use the kitchen as a work-from-home venue, the new layout has given them a study, as well as a mezzanine breakout space, introducing a wellbeing-boosting distinction between work and home life.
From the outside, Oakley Place is like any of the other Victorian terraces in this part of South London. From the inside, it is one of a kind. Having lived with the flat’s bland, white rooms for years, the owners were determined that their new environment should embrace colour. They first met Russian For Fish in 2015, and familiar with the practice’s reputation for the graphic use of colour, were confident that the team could deliver their vision of a bold and bright head-turning interior that enhanced the feeling of spaciousness while inspiring joy.
A dark blue entrance and stair leads to the fun and flamboyance of the upper floors. The juxtaposition of contrast colours creates a feeling of height and adds depth to what was a cramped and enclosing space. Bespoke joinery by long-standing collaborator Jack Alexander intelligently creates storage while enabling open views throughout. In the open-plan kitchen and living area, colour divides the room into individual zones, while the all-white bathroom creates a zone of respite and calm.Our clients – a couple with a baby – had been living in their home for several years before approaching Russian For Fish to extend and improve it.
As well as extending the flat, the project entailed improvements and repairs to the fabric of the existing building, with enhancements made to both heat efficiency and acoustic performance that directly improve residents’ quality of life. The most pronounced impact of the project was decorative, thanks to the colour pairing strategy developed with the client. Bold tonal juxtapositions including blue and yellow, and pink and green give each room character while creating a sense of spaciousness, enhanced by the careful placement of skylights and the introduction of bespoke joinery such as the balustrade screen in the hallway. Long, layered views throughout contribute to the sense of openness and space – compensating for the flat’s lack of outside space.
Russian For Fish focused on retaining as much as possible of the existing fabric of the building, with minimal structural interventions, to retain embodied carbon. Energy efficiency and thermal performance were also project priorities. Repairs were made to the brickwork and roof, which has been insulated beyond the level mandated by current building regulations. External walls and floors have been insulated, with acoustic insulation in party walls and flooring. The communal entrance door has been replaced and double glazed, as have the windows, and a new roof light above the stairs offers natural light and ventilation. The house has been rewired to optimise electrical performance and plumbing upgraded to maximize water efficiency. Heat is provided by a new, hydrogen-ready boiler.