Gianni Botsford Architects completes Reciprocating House
Gianni Botsford Architects have created Reciprocal House behind a Victorian pub in a quiet Hampstead mews. London Family Home While a dilapidated cottage from the 1860s has been replaced is restoring A single-story 1969 extension by Foster Associates (now Foster + Partners), complements its industrial character with a reciprocal new volume. Defined by steel truss structure, concrete block and large-span aluminum frame Glazing, original detail inform the minimalist language, materiality and form of the new intervention.
The new addition re-imagines the cottage’s roof profile through sharp, geometric elevations, while a perforated aluminum mesh drapes the facade. Its soft copper-brown color is reminiscent of the demolished structure while providing shade, privacy and a visual connection with the surrounding trees.‘Our response to this sensitive and neglected context is driven by the notion of local adaptation.’ Gianni Botsford explains. Throughout, passive strategies have also been implemented to ensure that the home has minimal environmental impact.
A perforated aluminum mesh covers the mask. Unless otherwise stated, all images by Schnepp Reno
Aluminum elements join with recycled brickwork
The name of the project, Reciprocal House, reflects its conceptual approach of establishing a continuous dialogue between the old and the new. Gianni Botsford Architects’ intervention equals the architectural stature of the 1960s extension and the contemporary addition, creating a unified yet distinctive composition that embraces the natural views and a raw industrial aesthetic. The landscaping also incorporates recycled bricks from a demolished hut, emphasizing embodied memory while rooting the project in its past. Above, a spacious roof terrace complements the transparency of the volume and immerses residents in the canopy of surrounding mature trees, connecting architecture and nature.
inside a four storey house London based architect Featuring a range of locally manufactured aluminum elements, including a striking spiral staircase – a sculptural focal point – kitchen units, wardrobes and bathroom fittings. A 2-metre-wide circular roof light above the staircase floods the levels of the space with natural light while doubling as a ventilation shaft to enhance the home’s passive cooling strategy. Openness and flexibility have been given further priority with the layout, which features a connected kitchen, dining and living space on the ground floor. These flow seamlessly into the renovated Foster + Partners extension, originally designed for entertaining and housing a grand piano. Meanwhile, the upper floors contain three bedrooms and a terrace, and a basement studio benefits from tall, light-filled wells that draw daylight into the underground space.
Gianni Botsford Architects completes Reciprocal House
Passive strategies ensure minimal environmental impact
From form to function, sustainability drives Gianni Botsford Architects’ approach. Materials with high thermal mass, such as exposed concrete, naturally regulate indoor temperatures, while increased insulation and airtight construction reduce heating needs. The design eliminates gas dependency entirely, with an air-source heat pump providing underfloor heating and an EV charger installed in the front lightwell. Rainwater and gray water recycling systems reduce water use, while green roofs reduce runoff and enhance biodiversity. The spiral staircase and open ceiling lights work together to create a stack effect, allowing hot summer air to escape and promote natural ventilation.
The family home, a 1969 extension restored by Foster Associates, replaced a dilapidated 1860s cottage
