Danish Mews House

Client: Søren Elleman

: Price and Myers (Structural engineer), ABC Limited (Contractor), White and Lloyd (Quantity surveyor), Thyssenkrupp (Lift), Bespoke Handrails (Staircase), Martin Moore (Kitchen), Laki (Joinery)

The Danish client who had owned the building for over 35 years - using it as a workshop and garment showroom - sought to radically transform the space into a contemporary, light-filled home with a variety of social spaces for himself, his wife and visiting guests. The originally cramped rooms are reimagined; the challenge was to improve the quality of the spaces and quantity of natural light available in the home. There is only one primary facade, and the property is overshadowed. Neil Dusheiko Architects positioned new dormer windows and large skylights to create an abundance of natural light.

Materiality works in tandem light; Douglas fir steps are wrapped in a solid oak balustrade, with timber also inlaid in the stairwell. A sinuous handrail leads up from the ground floor enhancing a sense of tactility. Industrial style glazing between the dining area and the stair core helps to create a visual interplay between the two spaces. The balance between space for cooking, relaxing and dining has been perfectly judged to respond to the client’s lifestyle. In the bedrooms, bespoke joinery helps to maximise the available space. Promoting a connection to nature, one of the bedrooms has its own wintered garden, sheltered from the elements but bathed in light and fringed by built-in planters. The simplicity belies careful planning and an aspiration towards a Hygge feel. The exposed brick fireplace, Martin Moore handmade kitchen, and covered terraces lined in timber are all warming cues that nod to the Hygge design philosophy.