
Robert Rhodes Architecture + Interiors has transformed a traditional Georgian townhouse into a forever family home, overlooking one of Islington’s most prominent public garden squares. The project, Myddelton Square, is situated in an area rich with history, which was an integral part of the New River Estate developed by the New River Company in the mid 1820s.
The square remains an exceptional example of residential architecture and town planning in London, with simple and generous houses that define the area and achieve a remarkable balance, offering residents anonymity, seclusion, and retreat while remaining part of the city.
Robert Rhodes Architecture + Interiors drew on their experience with listed buildings to gently and meticulously preserve the early 19th-century architecture and reinstated its Georgian detailing, as the client wanted to preserve the historic charm of the townhouse.
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Work on the front façade focused on repairing areas of damp ingress, stripping back decades of vinyl paint to reveal the original plasterwork, and repainting the façade with more suitable, breathable paint. They also protected and restored the original doors, windows, shutters, fireplaces, and cornices.
Robert Rhodes’ interior approach moved away from trends to instead focus on the timeless qualities of the townhouse, retaining and enhancing the historic fabric of the house to celebrate its stories and authentic character. Essential upgrades to plumbing and other services were subtly concealed behind joinery and wall panels.
Rooms were returned to their original shape, and the overall layout was reorganized to allow for a more functional arrangement of bedrooms, bathrooms, and play spaces to meet the needs of a busy family with three young children. Spaces were finished with a simple, sensitively curated selection of materials, including high-quality marble and oak.
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These materials were chosen for their traditional, elegant look and ability to ensure comfort and long-lasting utility and durability.
The garden at Myddelton Square was transformed from a barren and overlooked yard into a lush, evergreen oasis, devised by Robert Rhodes and garden designers GRDN.
Myddelton Square now serves as a forever family home.