A Second Skin, Wimbledon
The clients — a family of four with two young children — came to us with a clear vision and high expectations. They were demanding, yes, but also respectful of our experience. We listened carefully, as we always do, and in turn they took the time to consider our opinions and advice. The result was a genuine collaboration, one in which ideas were tested, debated, and refined until a shared ambition emerged.
The building itself divides opinion. Some feel it doesn’t conform to the rhythm of its Edwardian neighbours; others see it as a breath of fresh air — bold, beautiful, and unapologetically contemporary. For us, this is part of the point. With every project, our aim is to achieve design excellence: to create homes where our clients can eat, sleep, live, and play in spaces that respond to their needs, desires, and aspirations.
Second Skin is such an example. The house has been reconfigured, extended, and reimagined to make the most of its generous plot and the long views across South Park Gardens. Thoughtfully planted by Shelly Hughes, the design ensures the building will weather gracefully, softening as the landscape takes hold.
Clad in a new masonry skin, shaped and cut as if by a sculptor’s hand, the building carries a quiet monumentality. Inside, light, texture, and space work in harmony — a home that is practical, sustainable, and full of character, designed first and foremost for the family who lives there.
- Architecture
- Matthew Giles Architects
- Interior Design
- Matthew Giles Architects
- Landscape Design
- Shelley Hugh-Jones
- Structures
- MBP
- Main contractor
- IC&T Projects
- Awards
- Brick Awards, Shortlisted
- Awards
- BD Architect of the Year Awards, Finalist
- Awards
- British Homes Awards, Shortlisted
- Awards
- AJ Retrofit Awards, Shortlisted