Eel Pie Island

‘The Cottage’ is set on the secluded and historically creative Eel Pie Island on the River Thames, Twickenham; an area with a reputation as a place of refuge and retreat with deep roots in Jazz and live music and a unique — if slightly unconventional — style of living.

The client’s fascination with heavily lacquered Venetian boats drove the design of the proposal — an aesthetic in-keeping with the vibrant architecture set about the water-front: itself reflective of the city of Venice. As you move through the space, exposed timber ribs above clad the interior of the house, allowing its regimented structure to pose as ornate decoration. The linear composition of spaces along the length of the property is reminiscent of the house barges that exist along the River Thames: with bedrooms at each end of the home to flank the central living space. This beautiful double-height space forms the heart of the home, with overlooking mezzanine balconies at it’s ends - each with corresponding full-height windows looking outwards - and large retractable roof lights allowing the scents of the river to fill the home. The unique and varied material-palette of Eel Pie Island allows for a scheme with a broad choice of materials: the exteriors of the property are clad in a bronze/copper metal with the ends of the structure capped with glazing to allow for beautiful aspects across the river and inwards toward the island. The building - which is sensitive in materiality, scale, and massing - is a shining improvement on the existing landscape.

Residential New Build

Located in Twickenham

2019