Stone bricks give the multi-layered walls of this family home extension in London’s Highbury a distinctive character. The project, named Stone and Steel House, was crafted by DGN Studio in partnership with creative director Sarah Izod.
The renovation of this three-storey townhouse introduced a new kitchen and dining area to the rear, as well as an additional loft extension upstairs.
The project extends the ground floor and adds a new loft level
For the main structure, the team chose sandstone bricks instead of the more typical fired clay, pairing them with stainless steel as core materials.
DGN Studio, led by Daniel Goodacre and Geraldine Ng, together with Izod, initially considered clay brick finished with a lime slurry. However, the switch to stone bricks enabled a more sustainable and efficient building approach.
Two types of sandstone brick were selected for the project
“Because the stone could be cut to a precise thickness, we could reduce the overall amount of masonry in the wall, freeing up additional space for insulation,” Goodacre explained to Dezeen.
“This allowed us to incorporate breathable hemp insulation material,” he continued.
“We were also persuaded by the low embodied carbon of stone bricks. They can generate up to 95 per cent less CO2 per kilogram compared to clay bricks, since they don’t require firing.”
The material palette features stainless steel elements and glazing
To highlight the distinct qualities of the cut stone, the designers used two different finishes throughout the extension.
Rough split-faced bricks were applied at the base of the kitchen extension, while sandblasted bricks offered a smoother surface for the upper walls and interior partitions.
