Conversion from restaurant and flats to a single five-storey dwelling.

The building at Ifield Road had been converted several times over the last 30 years and was, at the time of heostudio’s appointment, a restaurant and two flats. Apart from being in poor condition, the building totally failed to capitalise on its location overlooking Brompton Cemetery, and resulted in a series of spaces that were dark, cramped and unloved. By opening up the five floors of stairs, landings and roof terraces and unifying them as part of the social space, the rooms established a sense of connectivity, and previous dingy stairwells were filled with light. The living spaces run the full length of the ground and first floors, with high quality walnut and oak finishes, and a generous master bedroom suite occupies the whole second floor. A grand and contemporary oak lined stairway provides access to the previously totally dark basement, which now has excavations at the front and rear to provide natural light and access to both street and garden.

Date: 2005
Floor area: 300m sq
Listed status: Conservation area