Shacklewell Lane, London E8

A duo of former shop fronts in Dalston offers little in the way of information to the casual passer-by. However, lurking behind is a glorious palimpsest of a project, recently completed to a design by Lynch Architects. Having undergone many iterations in its not-so-distant history, including as a recording studio and furniture shop, it unites a 19th-century dairy and milking parlour with a Georgian terraced house, providing four bedrooms and over 2,800 sq ft of light-filled internal space.

The Tour

The house is situated half way along Shacklewell Lane, among a quiet mix of residential buildings and small shopfronts. The design retains the stealth of the front façade while punctuating the upper level with vibrant Boffill-esque shades. At ground level it introduces warm oak in the doors of the main entrance and studio, and the bifolds of the garage, which is currently used as a yoga studio.

The main entrance is situated to the left and opens to a long corridor with far-reaching views to the far end of the house. Terrazzo flooring is paired with beautifully crafted oak joinery and framed glazing that looks onto the front studio.

To the right is a doorway into a utility room with routes into the shopfront studio and in turn to the garage/yoga studio.

The Georgian house is situated at the front of the deep plot and rises to its first floor via a striking red-painted original staircase. Here, three large bedrooms and a bathroom have been given a sensitive renovation, retaining much of their original period charm.

From the entrance hall at ground level, a terrazzo-tiled floor leads to the rear through an intimate study and a glazed link between the old house and the former dairy and parlour. Next to it is a guest WC clad in tiles from Studio GdB. Underfloor heating extends from here to the remainder of the house, including in the yoga studio.

The glazed link leads between two external courtyards to reach an open-plan kitchen and dining room. The kitchen was designed by Reform CPH with white cabinetry, plate steel worktops and Barazza hobs; a sleek juxtaposition against its adjacent painted brick wall and exposed timber beams.

A circulation hall at the end of the glazed link serves as one of the many ambiguous thresholds that define the easy flow of the house and its various elements. In warmer month, this blurring of boundaries extends to the contained courtyards, the larger of which contains a separate outhouse.

Beyond the hall is an enormous living space, lit from above by a series of roof lights and with a doorway onto its own smaller courtyard.

Within the hall, a sculptural oak staircase rises to a new level beneath more rooflights and a glazed brick clerestory. This provides the space for a brilliant second principal bedroom or guest wing. Oak framed glazing and Juliet balconies pour light into the vaulted space from two aspects and the latter offers a wonderful vantage point over the courtyard below. This bedroom has its own shower room.

The Area

The house is brilliantly located in central Hackney, just north of the popular London Fields and east of bustling Dalston. It is also conveniently close to the green open spaces of Victoria Park and the Regent’s Canal path.

There are many fantastic cafés and restaurants locally, notably Pophams and Lardo on Richmond Road, Little Duck The Picklery and Angelina on Dalston Lane, Elliot’s on Mare Street, and Pidgin and Violet on Wilton Way. There is an overwhelming sense of community in the area, with weekly markets at Victoria Park and Well Street, as well as on Broadway Market, which has a reputation for some excellent places to eat and drink. E5 Bakehouse, on the edge of London Fields, is excellent for freshly baked artisan bread and grains.

Kingsland Road is a short walk away with all that Dalston has to offer, including Brilliant Corners, The Jago and The Dusty Knuckle. The Prince George and The Spurstowe Arms are among local favourite pubs.

Dalston Junction and Kingsland stations are both a short walk away, providing transport links on the east/west and south-bound branches of the London Overground. Nearby Hackney Downs station provides links to Liverpool Street in less than 10 minutes. Buses run regularly to London Bridge and the City from nearby Kingsland Road.

Council Tax Band: D