Eidolon House

Photographer: Will Pryce Eidolon House is the Winner of the Sunday Times British Homes Awards 2014 for Best One-off House. It is believed to be the first mirror-clad house in London. Although located adjacent to the historic Highgate Cemetery and in a Conservation Area, Swains Lane has a tradition of innovative contemporary architecture. No. 85 (next door) by Eldridge Smerin Architects won a RIBA award in 2009 and John Winter’s 1969 Corten steel clad house at No. 81 is one of the few Modern houses to be Grade II* listed. Eidolon House builds on the tradition of glass and steel Modernist housing started by Winter. Here in contrast to Winter’s use of rusted Corten steel, the renovated house is clad in mirror polished stainless steel reflecting the trees opposite – highlighting the changing of the seasons. Inside the house further celebrates its fantastic setting with large windows and an open-plan top floor overlooking the overgrown cemetery beyond. The project name refers to the reflective cladding and cemetery context – Eidolon means phantom, apparition, double image and idealised.