Reciprocal House: A Home in a Garden

Nestled in greenery and surrounded by the buildings of London, Reciprocal House is a 280 m² home on four levels. Hidden behind a Victorian pub in Hampstead, the home replaces a dilapidated 1860s cottage, while retaining a 1969 extension designed by Foster Associates (now Foster + Partners).

The new building, designed by Gianni Botsford Architects, complements the lightweight single-story structure of steel trusses, concrete blocks, and large-span aluminum-framed glazing, designed by Norman Foster’s studio.

The project focused on creating a reciprocal connection between the two buildings in which the form and volumes of the new and existing elements carry share similar architectural value but remain separate.

Reciprocal House

The design team analyzed the site and the relationship between the new home and its context to develop a project that optimizes the relationship with the surrounding landscape, especially with the tall trees around the roof terrace.

The house accommodates a kitchen, dining and living spaces at ground level, with three bedrooms and a roof terrace on the upper two floors. A basement-level studio gets natural light from 3 m tall light wells. At ground level, the spaces connect with an open-plan room designed by Foster Associates as an entertaining space.

Interiors and façades

The interiors feature finely crafted aluminum elements, designed by the architect, including the staircase, kitchen furniture, closets, bathroom fixtures, screens, and doors with an essential color palette and clean lines.

The roof of the new house recalls the roof profile of the original cottage, while its angled elevations give the architecture a strong geometric character, both inside and out. This effect is further underscored by a 2 m circular roof light above the aluminum spiral staircase, which connects the three main floors.

With the roof light open, the stairwell also provides natural ventilation for the entire home, using the stack effect to extract warm air during summer.

The façades of the new building are clad with perforated aluminum mesh in a delicate copper brown color, which preserves the memory of the original home, while also ensuring privacy inside and sun screening. This measure also lets the occupants enjoy views of the garden, access to sunlight, acoustic comfort, and security.

Care for the environment

The design team paid special attention to the project’s environmental impact, reusing brickwork from the original home for landscaping, for example. Passive design strategies were also implemented, including the use of materials with high thermal mass, which, combined with the natural ventilation strategy, ensures that the home remains cool without active cooling.

An electric vehicle charging station was installed, and the kitchen is fully electric, eliminating the need for a gas supply. Rainwater recycling and green roofs further reduce water consumption and runoff.

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