Basalt House / EBBA Architects

Architects: EBBA Architects
Year: 2025
Photography: Rikard Kahn
Contractor: KMI London
Structural Engineering: GEO Top
Joinery: KMI London
Furniture & Accessories: &Tradition – ITA Table; Vitra – Akari 1A Series Table Lamp; EBBA Objects – Plod; &Tradition – Muno L18 Chair; EBBA Objects – Tri-stool; HAY – Crate Chair; Santa & Cole – MAIJA Ceiling Pendant; Studio Zangra – Ceramic Wall Light
City: London
Country: United Kingdom

Basalt House is a completed renovation and extension of a Victorian terrace in North-West London, designed by EBBA Architects in 2025. The project reinterprets the domestic character of a historic dwelling through carefully judged material interventions and the strategic introduction of light. A rear extension clad in basalt stone and a loft conversion crowned by an organically shaped skylight define the transformation, with daylight channeled through the core of the home to unify its different levels. The reconfigured plan provides two new bedrooms in the loft and a spacious kitchen opening onto the garden. The project places emphasis on sustainable, crafted details: restored timber floors, aluminium-framed doors for improved efficiency, and bespoke joinery made in dark-stained ash. Furniture and lighting selections, from EBBA’s own objects to contemporary pieces by Vitra and &Tradition, reinforce the atmosphere of understated refinement. In its balance of historic texture and contemporary clarity, Basalt House encapsulates EBBA Architects’ ethos of merging past and present through craft, material, and context.

EBBA Architects’ Basalt House is a sensitive yet bold reimagining of a Victorian terrace in North-West London. Known for an approach rooted in material richness and contextual awareness, the London-based practice sought to introduce a new architectural language that would respect the building’s historic origins while providing the spatial qualities needed for contemporary living.

At the core of the project is a striking rear extension clad in basalt stone. The stone’s deep, earthy texture establishes a strong visual presence, while an exposed steel lintel sharpens the composition with a quiet industrial precision. The dialogue between the soft surface of the basalt and the clarity of the steel creates an atmosphere that feels calm and grounded, yet distinctly modern. This new addition contrasts without overpowering, serving as a counterpoint to the original Victorian fabric.

The loft conversion continues this interplay of tradition and innovation. A sculpted skylight introduces natural light in an organic sweep, filtering daylight down through the stairwell and central spaces. This careful manipulation of light ensures that the interiors feel connected across all levels, binding the house together in a rhythm of brightness and shadow. The reconfiguration accommodates two additional bedrooms within the loft, while at ground level, a generous kitchen extension opens directly to the garden.

Inside, the project balances restoration with bespoke interventions. Original timber floors were retained and repaired, lending warmth and continuity, while polished concrete and stained ash joinery provide a contemporary counterweight. The kitchen island, crafted as both a working surface and an informal dining area, anchors the extension and orients activity toward the outdoors. Across the interiors, the layering of tactile finishes creates a refined dialogue of contrasts: light against dark, polished against raw, traditional against modern.

Attention to sustainability is evident throughout. The use of durable natural materials, alongside improved thermal performance through aluminium-framed glazing, enhances both comfort and efficiency. Furniture and lighting selections underscore the crafted character of the space, with pieces by EBBA Objects sitting alongside designs from Vitra, HAY, and &Tradition.

Basalt House is emblematic of EBBA Architects’ wider ethos, which privileges atmosphere, craft, and the careful meeting of past and present. Each detail, from the weight of the basalt to the curve of the skylight, has been orchestrated to heighten the experience of space and light. The result is a dwelling that not only respects its Victorian heritage but also embodies the quiet sophistication of contemporary design.