PROJECT

Beltwood Houses

CLIENT

Gregory Coram

CONTRACTOR

Self Build

ARCHITECT

Cuozzo.Company

FACING BRICKS

NATURE7 Brick B
NATURE10 Brick V
NATURE10 Brick R
CREA 7021

Photos: © Jim Stephenson

A Grade II listed Victorian villa, hidden in the greenery south of London: it sounds idyllic, but the estate was in poor condition when Gregory Coram entrusted it to Cuozzo.Company. The architectural firm took on the renovation and repurposing of the monumental main building and the accompanying gate house. At the same time, it drew up a vision for the future of the entire site. The result is impressive: six flats in the existing villa and five new homes. The architects chose Vande Moortel facing bricks for the Pavilion House, the Gatehouse and Beltwood Terraces. Each new volume was given its own place and identity, tailored to its proximity to the main building or the shelter of the surrounding forest.

Contrast as a design strategy 

In projects where old and new come together, a fundamental question arises: do you align yourself with the existing or do you resolutely opt for contrast? Cuozzo.Company chose the latter. The new architecture was allowed to be recognisably contemporary, with facing bricks as the defining element for the appearance and materiality of the façades. 

The artisanal nature of the facing bricks softens this new character. Thanks to their subtle colour variations, rich texture and natural patina, the buildings appear to have been part of the landscape for some time. Here, the brick takes on an almost narrative role: what is new looks weathered and blends effortlessly with the wooded surroundings. The chosen colours complement the other materials. The brown-red of Brick B from Pavilion House mirrors the trees of the surrounding forest, the colour shades enhanced by the dappled light of the canopy. For the Terrace Houses, Brick V was chosen, with a warmer undertone that harmonises with natural stone and oak. The dark CREA 7021 forms a powerful whole with dark zinc and sober window profiles. 

Of all the materials used, the facing brick is the most defining. It is the most visible and immediately sets the tone. Here, the brick creates a contemporary architectural language without detracting from the historic buildings in the immediate vicinity. 

New Gate House 

The estate originally had a gatehouse, which was carefully renovated by Cuozzo.Company. As a contemporary counterpart, they designed New Gate House. The new volume takes on the shape and proportions of the original gatehouse, but reads as a shadow of it. The façade in dark facing bricks (brick S) gives the building a modest, almost graphic character. Set among the trees and slightly further away from the other houses, the almost black brick reinforces the simple volume. The play with recesses introduces a traditional touch. 

Terrace Houses 

Next to the Victorian villa, outdated buildings with no historical value were replaced by three new family homes. The Terrace Houses are arranged in a stepped pattern starting at the rear of the villa. This rhythm is emphasised by identical façades with balconies and a striking Claustra pattern that acts as a kind of curtain to enhance privacy. Craftsmanship is also reflected in the varied use of the brickwork. The façades feature a Flemish bond, with alternating headers and stretchers, alongside a number of playful accents executed in a herringbone pattern. The orange-red Brick V bricks combine with wood and cream-coloured natural stone to create a balanced, contemporary whole. The natural tones and unique surface structure are further enhanced by the surrounding greenery: grass, trees and carefully placed flower boxes soften the architecture and anchor the homes in their landscape. 

Pavilion House 

In a clearing in the old forest, the Pavilion House appears in a play of light and shadow. To give the volume a less massive appearance, the first floor does not cover the entire ground floor. A cantilevered entrance adds excitement and reduces the visual scale of the building. The soft red brick B interacts with cream-coloured stone and generous glass sections to create a refined interplay of lines. Wherever you look, the forest imposes itself: the trees function as a fourth material and become an integral part of the façade composition. 

Beltwood House 

Beltwood House, the main building, is a listed Victorian villa from 1851 nestled in a garden of over 1.2 hectares and also includes an Arts & Crafts style gatehouse, two outbuildings, a garage, and a cottage, which are also listed as historical monuments. Our green NATURE10 Brick R facing bricks were subtly used in the renovation of the facade. 

In Beltwood, history and contemporary architecture come together in tactility, colour and surprising compositions.