Mile End Road

We were brought in to reimagine and reinvent a flat in East London which had been in the client's family for many years. In a state of disrepair and awkwardly accessed via a stairwell shared with the offices below, we nonetheless saw potential in this dilapidated rooftop space on Mile End Road. We sought to rationalise the layout of the apartment while retaining the intersecting load-bearing masonry walls that subdivided the space into equal quarters which, in turn, defined the four living functions of washing, dining, relaxing and sleeping. A level change and roof valley help demarcate these spaces and provide undulating height and rhythm which is designed to animate and unite the apartment. Soft north light washes through the wall to wall roof lights in the double dual-pitched roof above. Full height 3-layer spruce panels serve as sliding double doors for the purposefully wide bedroom opening. The same stained spruce panels are used for the adjacent kitchen cabinetry. Painted a vivid yellow, the sweeping spiral stair adds a sculptural element externally as it visually connects the two terraces which enjoy rooftop views over East London. Featured in Wallpaper and Dezeen magazines, and winner of an AJ Retrofit Award 2019.