London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025

In London, an Old Victorian Becomes a Wonderland of Colored Concrete

In London, an Old Victorian Becomes a Wonderland of Colored Concrete

Studio Ben Allen implements prefab elements to metamorphose a dated Victorian in just four days.

For the owners of this Victorian terrace home in north London, it was time for a change. The couple, who’s now retired, had been living here for 30 years, and the roofs were leaky, the kitchen was cramped, and none of the spaces got much natural light. But instead of moving out and moving on, they decided to make an update, which spurred quite a radical new design.

Behind the recent changes is Studio Ben Allen, who took some chances in expanding the rear of the London home. While adding a kitchen and two new bathrooms, the firm and the couple decided to explore off-site fabrication, implementing a series of multihued, patterned concrete rooms that ultimately earned the dwelling a local design award.



In going prefab, the firm was able to produce compelling results quickly. Three elements of the extension were built off-site before being installed in a matter of days: the exterior and structural concrete, which includes patterned brickwork, the non-structural concrete elements (like the kitchen counter and bath), and the balustrade.

Mirroring the pattern of the street-facing facade, the balustrade is cut from color-dense, wood fiberboard sheet material. It was delivered to the site as an easy-to-assemble kit. "It was fully designed-including preparation of all data-for the cutting machine," explains Allen. "It was delivered as a series of flat-pack components and assembled by the joiner on-site. Only glue and dowels were needed for the assembly and no cutting other than dowel holes was required."



Whimsical in nature, the entire update-including stairs, counters, floors, and benches-is swathed in a chromatic series of pigmented concrete. Green, blue, and red complement an otherwise neutral palette of wood and white paint. Beams and columns in a mossy green form a framework for salmon-hued structural wall panels in the first-floor bathroom.

An arch motif ties together the renovation. In the kitchen and the bath, skylights hang above ceilings with curving, rhythmic slices to provide each space with diffused light. Another arch is cut out of the wall that divides the dining area from the kitchen, creating a sight line all the way to the terrace. On the mezzanine, an arched window overlooking the backyard mimics the shape of the ceiling.



"We were keen that views out were focused on the back garden (or in the case of the bathroom, were screened altogether)," says Allen, "where the changing greenery is a constant source of interest, as opposed to the soft gray English skies. When the sun does shine, multiple shafts of light move around both rooms, animating the space."


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
×