Mile End Road

The project ambition was to reimagine the proportions, arrangement and flow of this cramped flat. Retrofit is particularly relevant to our ethos as a practice but the reinvention of existing spaces often poses more challenges than designing from scratch.

Architecture and interiors are so interrelated that we treat them as part of the same discipline. It is counter-intuitive to design one without considering the other in full. The relationship between fixed integrated furniture and freestanding pieces are all part of the same composition.

Therefore the most pressing challenge on this project at Mile End Road was to strike the right chord in terms of tone and contrast between materials. Our goal with the interior was to try to demonstrate that common materials, simple spaces and rhythm, all of which amalgamate to the same achievable conclusions, can be combined to create interiors that lift the spirit and calm the soul. We opted for restraint over opulence which is a more obtainable aesthetic and one we feel is a greater and more interesting challenge as, if done well, it has a more universally accessible appeal.

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, allowed us to define the four living functions of washing, dining, relaxing and sleeping. A level change and roof valley helped to demarcate these interconnected spaces and to provide undulating height and rhythm which is designed to animate and unite the apartment.
The incline of the roof is in part determined by the angle and path of the sun. Soft north light washes through the wall-to-wall skylights in the double dual-pitched roof above allowing us to maintain a large area of glazing while regulating internal temperature through the passive measure of orientation and pitch to minimise direct solar gain. We have considerably improved the thermal performance of the building’s envelope taking a ‘fabric first’ approach.

Daylight also filters through a frameless picture window with brickwork reveals located in the north facade. The expansive slimline sliding doors also in this facade have a level threshold for a smooth transition between inside and outside.

The external pale brick and mortar help to create a robust yet soft appearance and provide texture to the new rear facade. A carefully detailed and minimal sweeping spiral stair painted in a vivid yellow brings a splash of colour and adds a sculptural element to the exterior, visually connecting the two terraces which enjoy rooftop views over East London. Durable Accoya timber decking will silver naturally with age to complement the internal oak flooring.

The project focuses on the harmony between space and finishes. White washed timber is paired with smoked oak flooring to create a simple and complementary aesthetic. Stained spruce rafters, both fully exposed and partly concealed, express the structure of the roof while oiled oak details sew a common thread throughout.

Full height bespoke panels serve as sliding double doors for the purposefully wide bedroom opening. The 3 layer spruce panels were designed with a full height oak leading edge to provide latch free and handleless doors. The same stained spruce panels are used for the adjacent kitchen cabinetry. The bedroom has discrete inset and flush wardrobes with a continuing flush skirting beneath while the ‘headboard’ is part of the wall with hidden storage behind

Continuing the finishes and features was important to maintain the flow through the interlocking rooms, thus a series of concealed motorised blinds were fitted between the rafters and hidden in a soffit pocket in the ceiling. The purpose of this is to again allow to blur the boundaries between architecture and interiors as a symbiotic relationship not relying on soft-furnishings to ‘dress’ the architecture but become part of it.

The intention of this apartment was to feel ‘soft’ without an abundance of soft-furnishings. We selected furniture pieces with expressive and elegant frames without hard edges and defined angles. The light fittings were intended to highlight surfaces as opposed to space. Small directional up-lights were positioned in-between the rafters to highlight the ceiling space and roof structure at night whereas recessed strip lights provide a subtle wash of light down the internal gable wall and behind the bed bringing emphasis to the stained birch plywood behind. The conical pendants were intended to provide some highlighted areas finished in matt white with an oak collar to tie into the other interior finishes and sew that common thread through the space.

London has a housing shortage with much of the industry focusing on large local authority or developer-led multi-unit housing schemes. Rooftop and small infill developments do not make the headlines due to their perceived limited capacity for contributing to the numbers required. We, however, see infill and rooftop development as a fundamental part of the solution and a sustainable way for a city to grow.

The project was designed in order to facilitate the potential for another new build apartment towards the back of the host building’s footprint. When designing infill or rooftop buildings, thought should be given to how it impacts other future development so as not to limit any other infill opportunities.

This is a modest project but one which we feel is a small piece of this larger architectural and urban puzzle.