chelsea brut: pricegore evokes brazilian modernism in london

Preserving brutalist Heritage through a modern lens

In London‘s Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, English studio Pricegore Architects has undertaken a bold project to revive and extend a brutalist townhouse named ‘Chelsea Brut.’ Exemplifying the practice’s commitment to conserving modernist architecture, the design draws inspiration from the site’s Victorian heritage, blending the old with the new to maximize spatial potential. Purchased by its second owners in 2020, the 1960s-built townhouse required substantial renovation. The clients enlisted Pricegore to rework the five-bedroom home into a more contemporary and spacious three-bedroom layout, aligning with the needs of modern family life.

images © Johan Dehlin

pricegore unearths the site’s victorian history

During its investigations into the heritage of the site, Pricegore Architects discovered that the site was once occupied by a terrace of Victorian houses. Leveraging this discovery, the architects excavated 1.4 meters to expose the split-level character of the land. The newly enlarged modernist shell was fit with a 3.6 meter-high living space, echoing the brutalist language with elements of exposed concrete, connecting the interior to the lush, subterranean garden reminiscent of Brazilian mid-century modernist homes. Collaborating with landscape designer FFLO, the townhouse’s garden spans three levels, including the roof of the ground floor extension. Thoughtfully designed, the garden incorporates a water feature to soften the ambient traffic noise to create a serene retreat in the city.

Pricegore Architects breathes new life into a brutalist townhouse, blending modernist and Victorian heritage

inside the ‘chelsea brut’ townhouse

On the first floor of its Chelsea Brut renovation, Pricegore Architects transforms the formal living room with floor-to-ceiling glazing that slides back, creating a loggia-like atmosphere. Tall plants and grasses atop the ground floor extension establish a green threshold, ensuring privacy. A cleverly integrated sliding partition unveils a versatile film room or guest bedroom. The second floor hosts matching bedrooms and a bathroom, while an atelier-inspired master suite graces the top floor. Every room offers picturesque canopy views of surrounding trees through meticulously designed windows, maintaining the delicate balance of proportion and aesthetics.

the first-floor living room evokes a loggia with expansive sliding glass, connecting the interior to a lush garden

Responding to the client’s desire for a light and sunlit spaces to showcase their art collection, Pricegore Architects opted for raw materials along the interiors of Chelsea Brut. Unpainted lime-rendered walls, clay-pot ribbed concrete slab soffits, and exposed concrete beams contribute to a natural off-white finish. Reclaimed timber boards, richly stained joinery, and bathrooms adorned with tadelakt walls and micro-cement floors add layers of texture. A large automated skylight introduces natural light while passively cooling the spaces with its ‘chimney effect.’

originally a five-bedroom house, the renovation transforms Chelsea Brut into a spacious three-bedroom home
uncovering a subterranean Victorian terrace, the excavation adds depth to create a 3.6m-high living space