Will Gamble Architects wraps London townhouse extension in Corten steel

Will Gamble Architects has completed Ribbon House, a rear and loft extension to a Victorian townhouse in London, framed by weathered steel shaped like a pressed ribbon. The project expanded the original home into a five-bedroom dwelling. The client requested earthy tones, leading to a palette of Corten steel, terracotta tiles, brass fittings, green-toned carpentry, oak flooring, and microcement worktops. The ground-floor extension houses a skylit living, dining, and kitchen space flanked by built-in storage in pale green and oak. A lounge area under a timber-slat skylight opens to the garden via full-height sliding glass doors. The kitchen features a microcement island with curved corners and a terracotta-tiled pantry. Inside the existing home, a pale green library wall conceals a small bar. Historic details like ceiling roses, cornicing, and skirting were reproduced. The loft extension added two children's bedrooms and a bathroom. Founder Will Gamble noted the design was influenced by natural materials and the client's desire for earthy tones, starting with the Corten steel opening and extending to the internal palette. The studio, founded in 2018, has previously completed projects including a renovation in Cornwall and a farmhouse extension in North Hertfordshire. Photography is by James Retief.