{"id":2845,"date":"2025-08-22T11:06:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T03:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/2025\/08\/22\/bold-minimalism-in-a-high-victorian-townhouse-reinvented-by-mclaren-excell\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T11:06:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T03:06:40","slug":"bold-minimalism-in-a-high-victorian-townhouse-reinvented-by-mclaren-excell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/bold-minimalism-in-a-high-victorian-townhouse-reinvented-by-mclaren-excell\/","title":{"rendered":"Minimalismo audace in una casa di citt\u00e0 vittoriana reinventata da McLaren Excell"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luke McLaren and Rob Excell have been friends since childhood. They both went on to become architects and to found the award-winning London firm McLaren Excell, members of the Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory. The two are bold minimalists: they describe the look they\u2019re after as \u201ca robust simplicity.\u201d But their team of 14 are also specialists in classic craftsmanship and sensitive historic renovations.<\/p>\n

Updating this Grade II-listed High Victorian villa in Henley-on-Thames, famous for its annual rowing regatta, required them to put their full skill set to work.  The biggest challenge was replacing an existing rear extension that was extensively glazed, double pitched, and, in their words, \u201cclashed with the style and period of the house.\u201d Join us for a look at the house\u2019s new guise.<\/p>\n

Photography by Rory Gardiner, courtesy of McLaren Excell.<\/p>\n


Above: The three-story structure was built in 1890 and now belongs to an entrepreneur and a surgeon, who are both philanthropists, contemporary design aficionados, and champion rowers (hence wanting to be in Henley). The restored fa\u00e7ade has doors and window frames painted a gray-green to draw out the dark brick detailing. <\/p>\n

Invisibles, such as the re-insulated walls and roof space, the architects say, \u201censure the ongoing sustainability of this outstanding family home.\u201d<\/p>\n


Above: The double-peaked rear extension houses the kitchen and dining area. McLaren Excell sourced reddish-pink bricks made by 200-year-old Danish brand Petersen Tegl for their similarity to the brickwork of the main house. \u201cLime-based Sussex Red mortar from Limetec,\u201d they note, \u201clends the new structure a sense of presence and permanence while keeping it subservient to the host building.\u201d
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Above: \u201cBrick soffits were used to form deep reveals above the large, glass sliding door, while vertical elements taper back to create strong horizontal lines, providing a sense of openness from the interior\u2019s outlook,\u201d write the architects. Of their streamlined approach, they say: \u201cWe rely on the context of the site for form and materiality, even if it\u2019s a minimalist interpretation.\u201d
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Above: Vast windows overlook a water feature designed to \u201cevoke the sight and sound of the Thames honoring our clients love of rowing.\u201d Sean Walter from The Plant Specialist oversaw the landscaping.
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Above: The focal point of the open kitchen is an immense custom-designed island clad in Italian titanium travertine: its vertical elements are sandblasted and the top is polished to make it more hardwearing. Walls and floor of oiled oak create an elegantly quiet backdrop for the stonework.
Above: \u201cSkylights were cornered precisely in the large vaulted space to bring natural light into the entrance of the room,\u201d write the architects. \u201cAt the entrance to the extension, a coffered ceiling using exposed joists adds depth and texture to the space.\u201d,<\/p>\n

Opposite the sink, there\u2019s a cooktop and two wall ovens. The white paint throughout is Shirting 129 from Little Green..<\/span><\/p>\n


Above: The dining area has a view of a Japanese-inspired courtyard. The leather seats are Cassina\u2019s LC7 Swivel Chair.
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Above: In the downstairs living rooms off the extension, divided spaces were opened up, carpet and plywood was replaced by oiled oak flooring, and original moldings were preserved. The wooden chest is by American craft furniture maker David Ebner. Scroll to the end to see the floor plans.
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Above: Occupying the entire second floor, the main bedroom suite is a cocoon of oiled oak paneling and cabinetry.
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Above: Each of the three upstairs bathrooms is memorable, especially this one: \u201cRunning through the dressing room and the ensuite bath is a large, beautiful black-and-white Arabescato Corchia marble worktop from Italy, which forms cuboid sinks in front of the sash windows,\u201d write the architects. \u201cWalls and doors to the bathroom and WC are clad in the same material.\u201d,

Above: An Arabescato Corchia marble-clad sink. Note that in lieu of a window covering, the designers opted for frosted privacy glass.
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Above: The ceiling on the top floor was exposed to increase the sense of space. A wall of oiled oak cabinets, the architects specify, \u201crun below the picture rail, to help express and retain the original cornicing.\u201d
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Above: Another grandly serene bathroom with a travertine sink, floor, and tub surround. The wall rails are Vola\u2019s T39ELUS modular towel warmer.
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Above: A guest room has bedside Roy Wall Lamps from Italian brand Viabizzuno and Ferm Living\u2019s stained ash Inside Side Tables.
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Above: A window-side marble basin. <\/p>\n

The Plans<\/h3>\n

Above: A schematic of the back extension and courtyard.
Above: The upstairs floors were fully redesigned by the architects. The main bedroom, dressing room, and bath now occupy the second floor. <\/p>\n

Above: There are two bedrooms and baths on the top floor.<\/p>\n

Another favorite McLaren Excell project: Lessons in Reinvention: A Victorian Girls\u2019 School Reborn<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Luke McLaren e Rob Excell sono amici fin dall'infanzia. Entrambi sono diventati architetti e hanno fondato il pluripremiato studio londinese McLaren Excell, membro della Remodelista Architect and Designer Directory. I due sono audaci minimalisti: descrivono il look che cercano come \u201cuna robusta semplicit\u00e0\u201d. Ma il loro team di 14 persone \u00e8 [...]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2851,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-renovation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2845\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}