Shopfront Apartment at 280 Gray's Inn Road

What would it be like to live in a shop?

Balancing the excitement of display with a desire for privacy was the key in this project to convert two commercial spaces into a modern apartment. The design uses the accoutrements of traditional shops; the shop-window, display shelving, counters, booths and back-of-house, to create an interesting set of living spaces.

Most shop conversions blank-out the shop-window limiting the available light and ‘turning a blind eye’ to the street. Here the transparency of the shopfront is retained as a display case for jewellery design by one of the owners. A second layer of shelving inside forms an entrance hallway and living room storage. The shelving and the objects displayed combine with rotating shutters to enliven interaction with the busy street while forming ‘visual noise’ that maintains light and privacy within the apartment.

A skylight brightens the basement level master bedroom situated in the quietest space furthest from the street. A pair of adjacent bathrooms enjoy their seclusion in the middle of the plan. Lined completely in dark Moroccan waterproof plaster they offer a calm place of retreat.