Infinity House, London

In the thick of Clerkenwell’s variety of styles, scales and uses, Infinity House is an extraordinary family dwelling that has been miraculously carved out from a very constrained site. The detail design solution delivers a haven of privacy, facility and joy. The result is a design led rejuvenation project that substantially extends an 18th century Georgian Townhouse following the demolition of a 20th century industrial workshop that covered the original garden.

The Infinity House, in the historic quarter of Clerkenwell, London is a grade II listed Georgian townhouse, circa. 1716. Planning Permission was granted for renovation, alterations, interventions and extensive additional spaces in 2012.
 

Spaced Out’s design is a dramatic transformation that is completely masked from the Street. The new spaces begin to be revealed once through the front door when you see the entire length of the house. The clients, both internationally acclaimed artists, were very much a part of a collaborative design process established by Spaced Out which focused on light, material and memory. Influenced by Soane, Scarpa, Taut and Kuma we defined our own ‘Clerkenwell’ palette of traditional and contemporary materials which combined create an illusion of time and space to create Infinity House.

The sanctuary and classic section of the Georgian townhouse has been seamlessly linked vertically and horizontally to new spaces. Soft reflections and floating details deliver magical transitions between the old, the new and nature. The structured planting of the sky gardens is visible from all the main spaces. Natural light penetrates at all levels through extensive roof and floor glazing deep into the section as far as the subterranean swimming pool and spa.

Reflections, and subtle reflections of reflections, layer the various spaces of the project combining the historic and the contemporary into one another. This creates a unique and provocative juxtapositions throughout. These reflections widen an elongated site, forming an illusion of infinite space. Lateral views, not provided by a terraced property, are developed with parallel and offset glazed materials applied to the party walls . This is emphasised with an internal and an external courtyard at the junction between the new and the old architectures.

The design stimulates a variety of sensations: texture, smell and acoustic effects are all part of the design palette. Dramatic junctions are formed with quiet details creating highly atmospheric spaces. Infinity unfolds as light pours over, reflects within and is either recycled or absorbed by a variety of surfaces.

There are numerous special moments, great spaces and details for which no amount of words can adequately explain the magic. It is essential to be invited and to make the most of your visit. To take time to appreciate the theatre of the project, that something special; that is London.

Kanada Ya, Panton Street

In the heart of London’s West End close to Piccadilly Circus, at 3 Panton Street, this once dated basement and ground floor french restaurant has been transformed into a unique Japanese ramen restaurant. The transformation is the second Kanada-Ya restaurant in London. Two others are overseas, one in Japan and one on Hong Kong Island. The client brief was to develop themes from their original London restaurant in St Giles, by Haruhito Tomi with Spaced Out to cement the Kanada – Ya brand in London.

As found the space was dark and in need of complete renovation. This provided many design and detail challenges. The result of Spaced Out’s close collaboration with the clients incorporates a skyscape of round ceiling mirrors set at angles to reveal interesting pockets of extended vision for the customers. This feature alone makes the most of the details within the space. High level clerestory mirrors widen and extend the basement space, positioned strategically under the traditional london pavement lenses. The use of round pendant lights, in a variety of sizes and textures, interspersed with the skyscape adds to the dynamics of the space. Reflections of the furniture, occupants and the lighting provides a buzz to the whole composition.
 
The Kanada-Ya brand logo, featuring Mr Kanada-Ya provided the inspiration for the colour pallet, predominantly using black, white and flashes of red as the ‘secret colour’. The original structural brickwork of the space has been beautifully sandblasted and cleaned and combined with natural Douglas Fir timber furniture, injects a natural feel into the more formal colour pallet. The final materials palette creates a comfortable composition. The use of cross laminated douglas fir, by Tilly, is used to form, stools, benches and the round booths. Composed of 3 solid layers of douglas fir, this material has a very graphical as well as natural weave to its cut faces. This is expressed on the furniture as well as the vertically banded screen to the staircase. The douglas fir wood has been treated with a white hard wax oil to provide a silk like finish and added durability.

All the furniture and fittings are designed by Spaced Out and fabricated by an Artist / Maker, the Bamber Brothers of Hackney. The leg profile of the stools reflects the profile of the booth backs , a typical inflection often found in Japanese and other oriental furniture. Whereas, back to back, the booths create an elegant diamond graphic, filled with a flash of the secret colour, red. The variability of form found in chop sticks inspired the staircase screen. Note that each element is paired and that lengths and thicknesses vary based on our research. These quiet but effective references add to the authenticity of the final design language nurtured by Spaced Out.