Reimagining Modernism in Hampstead Heath

When Celeste Bolte and Peter Fisher began considering a move away from the hectic pace of Haggerston in Hackney, their number one priority was proximity to green space for walks with their working Cocker Spaniel, Percy.

Hampstead Heath had felt just out of reach, but a chance viewing of a one-bedroom garden flat on the Haddo House Estate, in need of updating, proved transformative. Drawing on her extensive network as founder of communications agency SALT, Celeste turned to architects Loader Monteith for the renovation.

“We host often and spend a lot of time cooking, so we wanted to make sure the kitchen was connected to the rest of the flat, not just a little box in the corner,” Celeste says as she recalls the brief to revitalise the somewhat tired plan and introduce a much more sociable kitchen.

We sat down with Celeste and Matt Loader to discuss how they reworked the existing layout, created nifty pockets for storage and introduced greater flexibility into the modernist apartment, now fittingly known as Percy House.

Having walked past “the slanty building” as Celeste and Peter had affectionately called Haddo House Estate, the 1960s modernist collection of flats and houses designed by Robert Bailie for the St Pancras Housing Association, they had often wondered what it might be like to live there, only moments from the Gospel Oak end of Hampstead Heath and in one of the most respected examples of post-war, mid-century modernist buildings in north London.

The flat they viewed had all the elements of the perfect apartment, with climbing hydrangeas bookending the kitchen windows and a garden to relax in. However, the layout left lots to be desired, as Matt recalls of his first impressions of the space after the couple had enlisted his help, “it didn’t have any of that kind of flexibility associated with modernism. It hadn’t really taken advantage of that. So that was one of the principles that we wanted to try and work through.”

The open-plan, adaptable layout that Matt envisioned was helped tremendously by the lack of load-bearing walls internally, “The thing that became evident quickly is that because there’s not really any structural walls within the property, there was an opportunity to take things like doors all the way up to the ceiling, which introduces a visual fluency.”

Next, they set about removing the awkward elements to maximise space for living and circulation. “There were doors opening on top of doors and kitchens that you actually couldn’t get into. Fundamentally, that just didn’t make any sort of sense.” Wiping the slate clean also created unforeseen opportunities to add new pockets of functionality. “There are always little bits of turnout space that exist as you do that,” he says. “For example, we couldn’t successfully incorporate the desk into the bedroom, so it just became a desk space.”

The original brief centred around two major tenets, the first being a kitchen to cook, entertain and host in. “Creating a quality and social kitchen was a big priority,” Celeste notes. “There were some logical choices – new underfloor heating, new bathroom and kitchen – and some more creative choices – better social connection between kitchen and living.” Custom joinery, assembled by Peter and crafted from American White Oak sourced from a timber mill in Lancashire, elevates the space, with stainless steel worktops nodding to the stoic functionalism of modernist design and looking sleek to boot.

“We worked with a high-low approach to put quality fittings into the parts of the home we touch and feel everyday,” Celeste says of their pragmatic approach to spending or spurging. Matt concurs, “I think if you recognise the difference between price and value, it means you can see the value in something even if it costs a little bit more”

The second and perhaps most relatable goal for anyone who has lived in an inner-city flat with a smaller footprint was finding ways to incorporate storage. “We talked at length about making sure all of the space works as hard as possible, which applies in three dimensions as well,” Matt says. “For example, you want low-level storage in the bedroom, but also high-level storage above it. That’s articulated through the guts of the plan by making sure you’re using the full volume.”

“We’re homebodies at heart”, Celeste agrees, “we like being in a space that has our belongings on show, but doesn’t feel cluttered or busy.”

With the project a success and their professional and social relationships intact, Matt reflects that the shift from consulting with Celeste on projects for other people to working with her as a client was not taken lightly. “I have to say, it means a huge amount that Celeste, from her stellar list of clients, asked us.”

“We opted for Loader Monteith because we wanted to work with an architect who understood modernist buildings but could bring a contemporary perspective,” Celeste recalls when asked why, of all the practices she works with, they were the perfect fit. “They’re especially good at spatial planning, which is crucial in a tight footprint,” she adds. “Living here feels much larger than its floorplan.”

Thanks to Matt, Celeste and Peter (and Percy).

View the listing here