A former Methodist church in Islington has been converted by West Architecture into a minimal live/work space for the founding director of The School of Life, Morgwn Rimel. Simple and functional adaptations were designed to release unused space and separate the living and working areas.
The renovation involved a dormer extension, the rebuilding of an existing mezzanine and an upgrade of all facilities, giving the double-height space a completely new life.
‘The large volume of the existing space made it perfect for the introduction of the mezzanine,’ says architect Graham West, who rebuilt a small existing mezzanine, opening up the ceiling to the room below. The simplicity of the exposed timber mezzanine, suspended from the roof on slender steel rods and reached by a folded steel-plate staircase floating just above the floor, became emblematic of the whole design: functional, minimal and stripped back.
Take an interactive tour of Bavaria Road Studio
Rimel became the owner of the property mid-way through the project, yet kept West Architecture on to help her create a space that reflected her design ethos and lifetsyle. ‘She was looking for something with an extremely high attention to detail and finish that was free from clutter and extraneous details. Somewhere without distractions for study, contemplation and recharging,’ says West.
Working with Rimel, West designed the new bedroom, which can be reached by another compact exposed timber stairway. ‘It works much better now as a place to work because of the introduction of the new bedroom – you can now isolate resting and working. Once you step over the threshold of the staircase and into the new room the you feel completely separated from daily tasks and work associated with the main space.’
Enclosed within a stressed skin plywood box, the bedroom becomes an independent sanctuary and echoes the design of the mezzanine level. Built with birch and spruce-faced plywood, the inner walls, floors, doors and architraves blend into a minimal panelled room.
The historic confines of the former church were a challenge for the architects: ‘The form and scale of the dormer extension had to respond [to] the building’s heritage status, in particular oblique views from adjacent street as well as privacy in relation to other dwellings within the same building,’ says West
A compact stairway leads up to the new bedroom, linking yet also separating the live and work spaces
A sliding plywood screen in the bedroom allows light and privacy to be altered
Timber is used across the space unifying the zones through material continuity
The inner walls, floors and doors of the bedroom are built with birch and spruce-faced plywood, creating a minimal panelled room
In the bathroom, the original resin floor was re-poured to create a smooth surface
The kitchen and bathroom facilities were all upgraded to reflect the ethos of the new design
The property features in the wellness feature of our January 2017 issue (W* 214), where we advise on a 24-hour reboot plan for your health and happiness, inspired by owner Morgwn Rimel
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the West Architecture website
-
We explore the world of XPeng, a Chinese brand challenging for market domination in the UKXPeng is the latest Chinese manufacturer to bring a bevy of BEVs to the UK market, splicing class-leading tech with competitive prices
-
Enter Marea Beverly Hills, an Italian restaurant with Californian gustoConceptualised by Nusla Design and led by chef PJ Calapa, Marea Beverly Hills brings in a sophisticated dining party ambience to flourishing Camden Drive
-
The story behind Pamela Anderson’s dazzling costumes in ‘The Last Showgirl’‘The Last Showgirl’ costume designer Jacqueline Getty unpacks Pamela Anderson’s outfits in the Gia Coppola-directed movie, which are rooted in the glittering history of the Las Vegas revue
-
Walk through Frinton Park Estate and its Streamline Moderne aesthetic‘Frinton Park Estate’, a new book by photographer James Weston, delves into the history of a modernist housing scheme in Essex, England
-
Conran Building's refresh brings a beloved London landmark into the 21st centuryConran Building at 22 Shad Thames has been given a new lease of life by Squire & Partners, which has rethought the London classic, originally designed by Hopkins, for the 21st century
-
Inside Powerhouse: The redevelopment of Lots Road Power Station, which once fuelled the London UndergroundThe twin-turreted building has followed in the footsteps of Battersea Power Station, being transformed into luxury homes and retail units
-
Sadler’s Wells East opens: ‘grand, unassuming and beautifully utilitarian’Sadler’s Wells East by O’Donnell and Tuomey opens this week, showing off its angular brick forms in London
-
2025 Serpentine Pavilion: this year's architect, Marina Tabassum, explains her designThe 2025 Serpentine Pavilion design by Marina Tabassum is unveiled; the Bangladeshi architect talks to us about the commission, vision, and the notion of time
-
We celebrate the emerging London architects to be excited aboutThese emerging London architects are some of the capital's finest ground-breakers, movers and shakers; heralding a new generation of architecture
-
From a mobile pub to a thatched canopy: Japanese architecture and craft explored at AA show in London'Distillation of Architecture', a new AA show in London, pairs architects with materials and makers in an exploration of craft through the Japanese lens
-
A library in a London telephone box? This is a charming reading nook full of surprisesSet in a restored London telephone box, Upper Street Little Library is a cosy beacon to encourage reading to the wider community
