West Hampstead Renovation&New Rooftop

The apartment is on the top floor of a semi-detached Victorian property, whose elegant architectural and decorative details reflect and contribute to the refined character of the South Hampstead Conservation Area.

The internal reconfiguration of the apartment seeks to optimise the use of space by creating a large, double-aspect living room and open-plan kitchen, which will benefit from both north and south orientation, and beautiful views across the Conservation Area’s ample vegetation and low-rise, well-preserved red brick houses. At its centre, a bespoke ribbon spiral staircase will provide access to the new rooftop terrace, while serving as a visual focal point in the room, like a ‘freestanding sculpture’ in an art gallery. The route from the street to the rooftop was reframed with a new focus on continuity of materials, finishes and colour: the red and brown shades of the clay bricks and fish scale mansard tiles of the building and its surroundings are reflected in the choice of terracotta microcement finishes, natural warm-coloured lime paint, brushed copper tapware and a brick-colour flooring over the rooftop, surrounding the new timber decking and terracotta pots.