Is it possible that London architects Luke McLaren and Robert Excell of McLaren Excell were Zen monks in a past life? We think so. The two specialize in using (in their words) “pure and restrained” materials—hay-bale-like wood wool, for instance—to create spaces of surpassing quiet and beauty. “Calm authority,” they say is the goal. Which is no doubt what won them the job of refurbishing Merrydown, a Victorian-era girls’ school in Dorset with an “almost monastic layout: one large room with a single corridor off it and cell-like bedrooms and bathrooms to one side,” as the architects say.
Since the 1970s the school had been lived in by the mother of the current owner, who approached McLaren Excell with the project. The single-story building was an obsolete hand-me-down in need of reinventing, and “the brief,” says Excell, was to “strip the structure bare and produce a larger, more interesting set of spaces,” a second story included. The wrinkle? The building’s existing envelope couldn’t be changed. Read on for a lesson in found space and the power of speaking in a whisper.
Photography courtesy of McLaren Excell.
![polished concrete floors and new windows set in deep white walls define th 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-733x977.jpg)
![the ground floor features a dramatic double height kitchen. it opens to th 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-6-733x977.jpg)
![a caravaggio p3 pendant light hangs over the central island, which like the ste 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-1A-733x1037.jpg)
![hans wegner wishbone chairs at the dining table (which isn\2\17;t i 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-13.jpg)
![viewed from the upstairs bedroom, the kitchen is \2\20;almost church lik 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-2-733x1037.jpg)
![brass countertops and a vola faucet add an element of luxury to the s 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-5-733x1037.jpg)
![the counters (two layers of \18mm birch ply bonded with two millimete 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-4-733x1037.jpg)
Admiring the cutout drawer pulls? Explore the hardware-free approach in 10 Favorites: Cutout Kitchen Cabinet Pulls.
![large new windows flood the space with light. in addition to being lit from the 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-3-733x1037.jpg)
![the brass counter edging becomes a minimalist stair rail. 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-11-733x1037.jpg)
![the second story bedroom—with shutters and railing that open it to 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-7-733x1037.jpg)
“It was important that the bedroom above was completely suspended from the roof structure to prevent any supporting walls or columns from compromising the living room. This was achieved by concealing the bedroom structure wherever possible and, where this was not possible, it was disguised by using painted steel sections that were indistinguishable from the existing timber roof structure. The result is a deceptively simple ‘floating’ room that seems to defy logic.”
![the living area fits tidily beneath the bedroom without feeling hemmed in. here 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-1-733x1037.jpg)
![textural wood wool blocks form the living room back wall and lend an 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-8-733x977.jpg)
![the stair wall is made of dry stacked durisol wood cement walling units. 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-15-733x1037.jpg)
![for a lighter effect, the durisol is paired with drywall. the elegant hand 31](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-16-733x1037.jpg)
![the all plywood upstairs bedroom. to source your own modern windsor chair, see 32](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-17-733x1037.jpg)
![a view from the bedroom balcony. note the exposed wood cement lining in th 33](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-18-733x1037.jpg)
![the exterior of the old school was also overhauled. though the roof was left as 34](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-20-733x1037.jpg)
![mclaren excell\2\17;s schematic details the new arrangement: on the grou 35](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Merrydown-renovation-Dorset-McLaren.Excell-architects-Remodelista-733x504.png)
Take a look at a few more artful conversions:
- In the Cornish Countryside: A Former Vicarage Soulfully Updated by Architect Amin Taha
- The House that Craigslist Built: A Bare-Bones Farmhouse in Midcoast Maine
- An Agrarian-Inspired Holiday House on an Agricultural Dutch Island
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on December 19, 2016.
Frequently asked questions
What is Merrydown by McLaren Excell?
Merrydown by McLaren Excell is a Victorian school that has been remodeled into a minimalist house.
Who remodeled Merrydown?
Merrydown was remodeled by McLaren Excell, an architecture and design studio based in London.
What was Merrydown before it was remodeled?
Merrydown was originally a Victorian school built in the late 19th century.
What was the main design concept behind Merrydown's remodel?
The main design concept behind Merrydown's remodel was to create a minimalist and modern living space while preserving the building's original character and features.
What are some of the standout features of Merrydown's remodel?
Some standout features of Merrydown's remodel include the large skylights, the open-plan living area, and the outdoor courtyard.
How does the remodel integrate the building's original features?
The remodel integrates the building's original features by preserving and highlighting elements such as the high ceilings, original windows, and brickwork.
Is Merrydown a sustainable house?
Yes, Merrydown includes a number of sustainable design features, such as a green roof, a rainwater harvesting system, and underfloor heating powered by a ground source heat pump.
Can you visit Merrydown?
Merrydown is a private residence and is not open to the public.
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