Gira, one of the world’s leading full-range suppliers of intelligent system solutions for commercial and residential property, bring the latest switch technology to a contemporary suburban home in London, designed by architects Fletcher Crane in a Cubist style.
Shaking up the suburbs with an ultra-modern design, the Tree House in Ealing stands out from its neighbour’s on Waldeck Road, Ealing in West London. This traditional London middle-class residential street is halfway between Heathrow and the city centre and consists of properties with pointed roofs, red brick façades with white wooden elements, quintessentially Victorian.
The Cubist-inspired new build by Fletcher Crane Architects of Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey, is set right in the middle of the street, on the site of a former garage, disrupting the streetscape at first glance then blending in harmoniously. “Stitched boldly into the street scenography” as the planners themselves put it, the structure looks as if it has been positioned with the utmost precision. Its cuboid shape and materials complement the surrounding forms and while the neighbouring buildings are ornamental with period details, the Tree House is elegantly restrained.
Using primarily three exterior materials: grey brick, black timber and anthracite metalwork, the palette is simple when the rough brick contrasts with sharp black details. The simplicity and rawness is carried through to the internal fit out where brick walls, bespoke ash joinery, terrazzo tiles and delicate metal balustrades contribute to a comprehensive and confident vision. Visitors to the house, entering the home along the secluded western boundary, step inside a lobby leads to a rich split-level arrangement of rooms. Living spaces flow from the front to the rear of the site with the kitchen and living room on the upper most storey optimising natural daylight. Two bedrooms and bathrooms are located within the semi-sunken floors which lead out to a planted garden, finished in black cobble setts.
The exterior of the Tree House focuses on purity and sharp contrasts between rough brick and crisp black elements. On the inside too, the focus is minimal and streamlined with just a few materials for maximum clarity. Rough brick walls are combined with bespoke ash joinery, terrazzo tiles and finely crafted metal balustrades. The décor is characterised by straight lines, with a strong focus on the essentials. With such a design-led attention to detail, the Gira Esprit Linoleum-Plywood Design Line of switches is the perfect blend of form and function for this modern home which is confidently understated – or in other words, very British.
Jacob Muijnck, Director, Gira UK says, “We are very pleased that we can offer a wealth of switches and socket outlets for the modern home which will help interior designers and architects alike focus on an element which has previously been overlooked. Our iconic Design Lines are constantly evolving so that you can now find lighting design solutions in innovative colourways, wood-framed fittings, linoleum, stainless steel, aluminium, chrome and even glass. With rising demand for renewable natural resources in every part of a building’s structure, our Gira Esprit Linoleum-Plywood range unites two natural materials which have always been popular with architects and designers, as well as proving robust and versatile. As more and more homeowners are appreciating the importance of these kinds of details to enhance the look and feel of an interior, as well as improving functionality and user convenience as shown in The Tree House. An added benefit of choosing Gira Design Lines is that the property owner has the ability to upgrade to a smart home system, which can be integrated in the Gira Design Lines. This ensures that their house can be adapted to suit inevitable lifestyle changes and varying needs.”
This stand-out minimalist suburban home has eye-catching designer sockets and switches which complement its aesthetic and enhance utility. Gira offers the following intelligent solutions:
Gira Esprit Linoleum-Plywood – this attractive socket and switch series works in tandem with the Gira System 55, which offers up to 300 different functions, so that every aspect of the home can be easily managed with controls that enhance modern interiors, where clean lines and natural materials are preferred. Made with birch plywood from sustainably managed forests in Finland and is PEFC-certified Frames in four attractive colours, Anthracite, Dark Grey, Dark Brown and Light Brown offer scope for a wide range of interior design combinations.
Immerse yourself in this stunning London home by watching the project video, exclusively created for Gira by Ben Tynegate:
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/568418975
