The project was a complex backland site with a number of planning restrictions. The brief was to create an imposing and interesting modern townhouse, making reference to the traditional London townhouse on the front elevation, whilst the rear elevation was required to incorporate brickwork and reference the traditional mews houses. In responding to this, they wanted to create a pared back minimal look but one which still contained cornices and architraves. There was a strong emphasis on proportion throughout. In order to further highlight the minimalist proportions, mouldings were stripped back to simple compositions and a new railing and design with hidden fixings created. The interior of the house needed to have the benefit of a three story glass stair well and in order to bring this into the language of the exterior it was clad with a Portland Stone brise soleil, the only example of which we know of. This involved flitching Portland Stone with metal in order to achieve the slender fins. There are two grades of Portland Stone which were chosen for their contrasting nature and detailed to make the most of their differences. The more rustic lower level being a nod to historical 'rustication'.