Morph design creatives were commissioned to provide full architectural and structural engineering design services, including contract administration to complete the comprehensive refurbishment of a four storey town house in a notable mews in Knightsbridge.

 

With a deep, narrow, single aspect floor plate typical of townhouses, the ingress of natural light was of principle concern. Where possible, we located the habitable spaces against the front wall to take advantage of the single aspect. Where we could not, we provided natural light through skylights and lightwells. The ancillary spaces i.e. Utility room, and bathrooms were positioned either towards the rear wall, or in the basement.

 

We resolved the location of the Kitchen by ensuring the ingress of natural light to the basement. We positioned a substantial floor light to the ground floor directly in front of the front wall.

 

The spaces within the townhouse are oddly proportioned. They are narrow but long. We decided that we would try to remove visual clutter to maximise the available floorspace within each space. We specified underfloor heating wherever practicable to remove wall mounted radiators. We terminated the wall plastering with flush trims incorporating shadow gaps, to remove skirting boards. We introduced flush outsize doors without architraves. We specified recessed or concealed ceiling lighting, wall lighting, and slim discrete faceplates. To the principal spaces we specified either seamless flooring or floorboards that span from front to back without joints. This was all to create a spare, clean aesthetic.

 

We also looked to visually connect adjacent spaces so that those rooms would appear larger than they are.

 

We designed bespoke new staircases to all levels, with an emphasis on the transmission of natural light. We created fully glazed screens, fire rated where necessary, to enclose the staircases. This increased the propagation of natural light still further.

 

The property now provides three bedrooms, three bathrooms, living room, kitchen, dining room, terrace, utility room and cloakroom to a very high specification. The project benefits from:

• Air-Conditioning to the habitable spaces; Continuous ventilation with heat recovery to the basement;
• Security & CCTV by Banham;
• Kitchen by SieMatic in association with Nicholas Anthony, with Miele and Gaggengau appliances;
• Duravit sanitaryware with Hansgrohe brassware to Bathroom, Shower Rooms and Cloakroom;
• Overlength Oak plank flooring by Dinesen;
• Seamless resin floor by Sphere 8;
• Underfloor heating to Ground floor and Basement