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Moon House

Kensington and Chelsea

Project Details

£0.5m to £0.99M

Alteration to existing property

Practice

Office S&M Architects

208 Bradbury Works , 3 Bradbury Street , London , Greater London , N16 8JN

A Kensington townhouse, designed for two art collectors, has undergone a complete renovation, with the addition of a three-storey rear extension. The design balances the practical needs of a functional home with the character of an art gallery. The homeowners, long-time residents of East London, commissioned Office S&M Architects to transform their dark and dated Victorian townhouse in Kensington into a vibrant, art- filled space, that functions both as a home and a place to showcase their art collection. The clients wanted to, in their words “bring East London cool to West London”. The dense arrangement of terraced houses and the home's north-facing orientation posed challenges in maximising natural light and amenity space. To address these site constraints, the renovation introduces a series of lanterns throughout the house to bring natural light deep into the plan. A rooflight, supported by a tessellated glulam structure, brings natural light into the ground floor living areas while also creating a spacious terrace at first floor level that provides the homeowners with a private outdoor garden space. At the top of the house, a skylight met by a curved soffit bathes the stairwell in gentle light, creating an inviting atmosphere that draws you up through the house. The homeowners saw the project as an opportunity to commission East London designers and artists to create bespoke pieces for their home. As avid collectors, they envisioned a home that would not only showcase their collection but also function as a comfortable and practical living space. Everyday fixtures are replaced with custom-crafted pieces, like bespoke cast sinks and sculptural toilets, blending art with utility. Moon House is both a functional home and a living gallery, showcasing a collection of art, objects and stories. Each space is carefully curated to celebrate creativity and craftsmanship while meeting the practical needs of everyday life. The result is a home that is comfortable, inspiring and deeply personal.