Mews House is situated on a restricted site within a historic conservation area and sharing its boundary with nine different neighbouring properties. This meant that the façade size was restricted to 6 meters-wide maximum, the height of the house was defined by the existing roof levels within the row of existing mews cottages, whilst the design of the house itself ensures the small courtyard to the rear is not overlooked by any of the adjoining properties.

Uniting interior spaces with a series of sculptural elements that have evolved from the same fluid architectural language; the central connecting feature being a pleated staircase designed specifically for the house that has been sculpted in high-performance polished concrete. The 4 storeys of the mews house include 3 bedrooms with bathrooms, a double-height living room, an open plan kitchen and dining room with a polished metal counter unit that echoes the curvilinear geometries incorporated throughout the home. A garden hangs on the vertical perimeter walls of the courtyard and a brown-roof system provides a bio-diverse habitat for micro-wildlife while allowing for increased thermal insulation and rainwater retention.

The design follows the London Plan for energy hierarchy, by firstly investing in the building fabric and minimising energy usage through passive measures, then providing energy efficient services and finally by incorporating renewable energy technologies. ‘BREEAM Ecohomes’ and Level 4 of the ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ were used as guidelines for its design and construction.

A condition by London’s Westminster Council to reduce on-street parking required the home to also include a garage. This internal garage has been incorporated at ground level and finished to the same specification as all other the interiors to enable the space to be used an additional room if the family choose not to operate a private car. Defined by the requirements of the client family and the contextual relationships of the site, the house is a fascinating architectural solution built on a restrictive urban site within one of London’s historic conservation areas.