Chelsea Penthouse by Studio 29 Architects
Recently redesigned by Studio 29 Architects, this small penthouse apartment is situated in Chelsea, London, United Kingdom.
Description
This redesign of a small top floor penthouse flat in Chelsea was all about maximising natural light and using it to our best advantage.
At Studio 29 Architects we love sunlight and as true Londoners, we are also obsessed with the changing weather. Natural light is the most basic asset of built space: it is what make us come alive, what puts us in a positive mood in the morning, and tells us of the changes of the seasons.
Our client purchased this mansion block apartment as a pied-à-terre. It enjoys beautiful views across South London, receiving continuously changing light throughout the day.
Despite this, the kitchen was initially at the rear of the property, overlooking a dark courtyard. At the same time, one of the two best south-facing rooms was a closed-off bedroom; blocking the best light, and the view, from the rest of the property. Not the best environment for a busy executive who wakes up very early and goes to bed very late.
We reorganised the layout of the flat, joining the two south-facing rooms to create an open plan kitchen / dining & sitting area, then created a small bedroom suite with a tiny walk-in wardrobe at the rear of the building, away from the busy road.
When decorating the space, we selected materials and textures for their decorative qualities, as we knew our client was too busy to want to add many decorative or personal objects to this second home.
Our choices of materials and finishes – including two types of marble, brushed brass, oiled oak, faceted & bronzed mirrors, leather and double toned boucle wool – formed an elegant and masculine palette which played in subtle ways with the ever-changing light. As we know only too well, there are days in London when natural light can be far from flattering or cheerful, so we dressed all windows with textured and sheer fabrics to filter the light and beautify the spaces with a golden glow.
We chose a small selection of contemporary classic pieces by B&B Italia and Flexform, and complemented them with a few iconic lamps by Oluce and a wool and silk rug by The Rug Company. The apartment now feels welcoming and relaxing, perfect for any impromptu trip to London.
Photography by James Tarry
- by Matt Watts
