RAW House / O'Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects

Architects: O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects
Area: 140 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Ståle Eriksen
Manufacturers: Arne Jacobsen, Brouns & Co, Chaunceys Timber Flooring, Crosswater, DLine, Established&Sons, Granby workshop, InOpera Group, Interfusion Joinery, Kast, Little Greene, Mentsen, Muller van Severen, TMA Construction Ltd., TopCer, Vola
Structural Engineers: Sanja Skrba at Entuitive
Landscape Consultant: GRDN
Main Contractor: TAT Building Ltd
Local Authority: London Borough of Lambeth
Client: Tanya Grigoroglou, Rupert Worrall
Form of Contract or Procurement Route: RIBA Domestic Building Contract
Approved Building Inspector: London Building Control
CAD Software Used: Vectorworks
Country: United Kingdom

RAW House, a hybrid residence and gallery designed by O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects in Clapham, London, reconfigures a dark Victorian terrace into a home and workspace for RAW Editions’ creative directors, Tanya Grigoroglou and Rupert Worrall. Through strategic spatial interventions, the project transforms the disconnected layout into a sequence of public and private zones. A gallery with floor-to-ceiling glazing and red terrazzo elements introduces a flexible, art-centered ground floor. Below, the basement kitchen is illuminated by triangular oriel openings, connecting interior and garden. Material expression is central, with birch ply cabinetry stained in linseed oil, inlaid concrete tiles, and custom metalwork recurring throughout. A restrained approach to construction avoids extensions, instead repositioning windows to enhance visual links to the angular hardscaped garden. Upstairs, bedrooms and bathrooms are finished with muted tones and matte tiles. Sustainable strategies include double glazing, underfloor heating, and fire safety measures. The project reflects the clients’ ‘living with art’ ethos, integrating creativity, domesticity, and spatial sensitivity.

Raw house / o'sullivan skoufoglou architects

London-based architecture firm O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects has completed a custom-designed residence and gallery in Clapham for Tanya Grigoroglou and Rupert Worrall, creative directors of RAW Editions. The carefully conceived project embodies the couple’s vision for a flexible living and exhibition space while demonstrating the architects’ ongoing interest in material expression. The clients initially acquired the two-story Victorian terraced house with a basement in 2019. Motivated by a strong sense of local identity and a desire to stay within their preferred neighborhood, they engaged O’Sullivan Skoufoglou to transform the previously dark four-bedroom home into a practical residence that also functions as a setting for the gallery’s diverse artistic program.

The original layout of the house was fragmented, with the ground floor and basement previously functioning as commercial spaces that offered limited natural light and restricted spatial flow. As a result, the main staircase led directly to the basement from the entrance. The ground floor included a kitchen and a living room, while the basement housed two bedrooms and a bathroom. The first floor contained two additional bedrooms and another bathroom. O’Sullivan Skoufoglou focused on establishing a flexible hybrid environment that could accommodate both living and working needs, allowing Tanya, Rupert, and their children to integrate daily routines seamlessly into a space that negotiates the transition between public and private zones. The redesigned entrance opens into a welcoming gallery and creative gathering area, illuminated by floor-to-ceiling windows offering an expansive view of the garden. Sliding shutters signal the gallery’s operational state, and a red terrazzo fireplace wall, referencing the original hearth, serves as a platform for rotating art displays. In line with RAW’s aesthetic and their intent to move beyond the conventional white-cube model, a subdued palette of soft pink and yellow tones is applied to the wall surfaces. To maintain privacy for Tanya, the repositioned staircase functions as a transitional element, discreetly concealing access to the upper levels while forming a solid boundary for the gallery. This design decision reinforces the division between public and private spaces, ensuring both privacy and continuity in the spatial experience.

In the evening, the family comes together in the kitchen to cook, dine, play, and relax. Situated in the basement, this open-plan area is naturally lit by two triangular oriel openings positioned at opposite ends of the space. One of these is a triangular skylight located above a Douglas fir plywood bench nook, offering a quiet spot for reflection and play. The other is a doorway that opens directly to the garden. Reflecting a shared appreciation for material expression, the architects and clients aimed to incorporate a rich variety of textures and colors throughout the interior. The plywood kitchen cabinets are treated with a vibrant linseed oil stain that highlights the natural birch wood grain, introducing depth and visual interest. Inlaid concrete tiles are carefully placed to define specific areas within the kitchen floor, while a bench that includes open shelving also functions as guest seating. Pops of color are used sparingly but intentionally to reflect the clients’ character—ranging from bright tomato-red sink taps to a dark red rainwater pipe. These bold yet controlled accents enrich the visual experience of the space and echo the shifting palette of RAW’s curated artwork.

An important early design decision was to connect the home and garden without extending the existing structure, in order to avoid the expense of groundwork required by the significant change in garden level. O’Sullivan Skoufoglou addressed this by repositioning the rear elevation windows to frame oblique views of the garden, establishing a strong visual connection between interior and exterior spaces. Seen through the expansive ground floor glazing, the exterior patio steps align with the triangular geometry of the oriel window, enabling a smooth spatial flow from inside to outside. The garden’s angular, sharply defined hardscaping takes on a sculptural quality, while the low-maintenance, climate-resilient planting creates a bold yet functional outdoor retreat visible from multiple points throughout the house.

O’Sullivan Skoufoglou’s attention to detail and thoughtful use of repeated design elements are evident throughout the interior. Custom circular door pulls and slender metal handrails with circular accents appear consistently across the home, establishing a sense of calm rhythm and visual coherence. On the upper levels, the master bedroom is located on the first floor, while the children’s rooms occupy the second. Each floor includes its own bathroom, finished with matte-colored tiles. The home incorporates double glazing, underfloor heating, and has been prepared for the future installation of a heat pump. To ensure safety, a fireproofing strategy includes the integration of sprinkler systems. The architects prioritized the intelligent use of space, enhancing the existing structure without unnecessary extensions, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable building practices and resource efficiency. O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects have created an environment in which each family member can experience moments of peace and personal connection—whether in the gallery, the kitchen, or the children’s bedrooms. The project stands as an example of purposeful, responsive design that captures the creative family’s distinctive ‘living with art’ philosophy.

Amalia Skoufoglou, Director at O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects, described the project as a creatively fulfilling collaboration with Tanya and Rupert, stating that the outcome was something truly unique to their family and would not have been possible without the clients’ vision and involvement. Jody O’Sullivan, also a Director at the firm, explained that their intention was to introduce a sense of lightness to the lower two levels of the house, reminiscent of a small West End gallery, while simultaneously aligning this atmosphere with the character of a domestic space. He noted that Tanya and Rupert had consistently expressed their desire to display art in a way that allowed visitors to connect with the residential scale of the home. Tanya Grigoroglou emphasized that the design of their hybrid living and gallery environment fully reflects RAW’s ethos and their goal of blending art with daily life. She credited Amalia and Jody with maximizing the use of space and enhancing the fluid transition between public and private, work and home, bringing to life immersive, restful spaces that aligned perfectly with their personal aesthetic and aspirations.