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Richard Parr Associates remodels Edwardian house for Rapha founder Simon Mottram
A century-old house in north London has been overhauled by Richard Parr Associates, to create a home for the founder of cycling brand Rapha and his family.
Simon Mottram and his wife Lucy asked for the double-fronted Edwardian-era house, which is located in the Mapesbury conservation area, to be completely remodelled.
![Richard Parr Architects remodels Edwardian house for Rapha founder Simon Mottram](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/06/walm-lane-simon-mottram-house-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_6-852x568.jpg)
Their brief was to refurbish and restyle the house to suit the needs of themselves and their three children. This included adding a separate but accessible apartment for their autistic son Oscar, who requires round-the-clock care.
"The clients wanted a rich, warm, elegant contemporary style, retaining the building's key original features," explained Richard Parr, founder of Richard Parr Associates. "They wanted to step out of the mould and achieve something unique."
![Richard Parr Architects remodels Edwardian house for Rapha founder Simon Mottram](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/06/walm-lane-simon-mottram-house-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x568.jpg)
According to Parr, the building needed a lot of work, as it had "essentially been institutionalised and allowed to become run down".
The original layout comprised seven bedrooms, five reception rooms, a kitchen and breakfast room, a large PVC conservatory and an overgrown rear garden.
The renovation saw an open-plan extension added to the back of the house, including a spacious family kitchen, a dining and living area, and a study.
![Richard Parr Architects remodels Edwardian house for Rapha founder Simon Mottram](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/06/walm-lane-simon-mottram-house-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_3-852x1136.jpg)
The team also adapted part of the existing interior to create a self-contained "house within a house". This allows Oscar and his carers to have a space separate from the rest of the property, but also makes it easy for them to come together.
"They visualised a bespoke space for Oscar and his carers," explained Parr. "It was important to have functional, modern services, including electronic and water systems that were robust and energy-efficient."
![Richard Parr Architects remodels Edwardian house for Rapha founder Simon Mottram](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/06/walm-lane-simon-mottram-house-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_13-852x1136.jpg)
The renovated rooms at the front of the property reflect the building's facade as a "respectable Edwardian villa". However the new spaces at the rear boast a simple, industrial-style aesthetic, referencing the love of cycling that led to Mottram founding the Rapha brand.
"The result is a house that features contrasting styles, with a front full of a gentle character, but a rear with an industrial and pared-back feel," said the architect.
"These two distinct aesthetics together create one rich style and character that combines simple, contemporary and urban with more traditional details."
![Richard Parr Architects remodels Edwardian house for Rapha founder Simon Mottram](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/06/walm-lane-simon-mottram-house-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_15-852x568.jpg)
Two rooms in the house are redesigned specifically to act as a place of retreat for the two clients.
Shut off from the rest of the building, they are a "sophisticated" drawing room and a "luxurious" master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. These rooms extend all the way down the building's length, allowing them to benefit from plentiful natural light.
![Richard Parr Architects remodels Edwardian house for Rapha founder Simon Mottram](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2018/06/walm-lane-simon-mottram-house-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_18-852x1136.jpg)
The material palette includes timber, brick and stone, as well as more luxurious surfaces, including richly toned fabrics, glass screens, panelled wall surfaces and traditional mouldings.
Other details include custom-made pieces by designer and relative Alex Godson, including perforated brass panels and a family dining table.
"This project does not have a 'decorated' interior as such," said Parr. "The layout and architectural solutions are both honest and simple, but also to an extent daring. They create the environment and atmosphere."