London Residence

Site & Context

Conceived within the silent shell of an old English church annex in the heart of London, this project is a dialogue between reverence and reinvention. What was once an auxiliary sacred structure defined by stone walls, pointed arches, and Gothic windows has been transformed into a residential retreat where heritage and contemporaneity coexist without compromise. The intervention began with restraint. The original architecture was treated not as a backdrop, but as a protagonist. Stone arches were preserved, volumes respected, and the spiritual verticality of the space carefully maintained. Rather than divide, the design works with scale; allowing light, air, and perspective to remain uninterrupted. Into this historic envelope, a decisively modern domestic architecture was inserted. A sculptural, glass-clad elevator rises through the space as a vertical spine, quietly connecting levels while becoming an object of reflection and movement. Its presence is intentionally contemporary, clearly of its time, and in deliberate contrast with the centuries-old masonry that surrounds it. The living areas unfold beneath soaring ceilings, framed by pointed Gothic windows softened by tailored curtains and filtered daylight. Furniture is understated, allowing architecture and art to command attention. The palette stone, soft greys, warm neutrals creates calm, while textures add depth and tactility. Art plays a central role throughout the house, conceived as an integral layer of the architecture rather than an addition. Iconic contemporary and modern works punctuate the space: reflective sculptures by Anish Kapoor engage with light and volume; poetic abstraction by Joan Miró introduces rhythm and colour; modern masters such as Pablo Picasso sit in quiet dialogue with the building’s historical weight; while bold, sculptural interventions by Jeff Koons bring tension, humour, and contemporary energy into the former sacred space. The private areas continue this balance of serenity and transformation. Bedrooms sit beneath timber roof structures and Gothic tracery, where historic geometry frames modern comfort. Bathrooms and dressing areas are treated as calm, architectural spaces; minimal, luminous, and tactile. Below, a private spa area redefines the idea of domestic luxury. An indoor swimming pool unfolds beneath vaulted forms, with controlled lighting that echoes candlelight rather than spectacle. The spa is designed as a place of retreat and silence, bridging the contemplative origins of the building with the rituals of modern wellbeing. This project is not about erasing the past, but inhabiting it. The former church annex has been transformed into a house that respects memory while embracing innovation. Sacred space becomes lived space; stone and glass, history and art, silence and movement coexist in equilibrium. What emerges is not a conversion, but a rare architectural synthesis where the gravity of history enriches daily life, and modern design gives new purpose to old walls.