Pimlico Renovation Space Planning

RMD was appointed to design a scheme to convert a decommissioned end-of-terrace shop into a four-storey house in a conservation area of south west London.

The building was just five metres wide and our client’s brief was to create as much space and light in the ground and lower ground floors as possible, leaving the upper two floors for flexible accommodation.

In addition, a new facade had to be designed to fit in with the existing elevation and provide a new double sash window, front door and bridge with stairs accessing a light well to the lower ground floor.

We were appointed to provide full design and build services as well as manage a team of professional consultants to advise on this complicated and challenging project.

All floors were replaced with new structural steels and flooring panels. New sash windows, doors and architraves were designed to copy the existing designs while the front façade was completely remodelled removing the old commercial shop front. A terrace was created on the third floor with fully integrated barbeque.

Internally, RMD designed a flexible wall in the main room at the front of the house to create a corridor that could be opened up into the main sitting room or closed off with hidden self-closing doors. The challenge was to meet the fire regulations which required that the main entrance corridor was to be maintained as the primary route of escape.

The central wall was built out wide enough to house an audio-visual system one side and a niche with mirror on the other.

The lower ground floor was opened up with new structural beams and an enlarged opening with four folding doors to the light well. An internal corridor was constructed directly below the entrance bridge to the main door above. This connected the family room to the vaults below the pavement which were converted into a utility room/boiler room and workshop/wine cellar.

A new kitchen was designed with a floating countertop for high-level seating which opened on to the family room. The clients in question had children and wanted visual connection to the main room while using the kitchen. A large invisible storage wall was created with hidden cupboards designed specifically for each domestic task such as ironing, washing and drying clothes.

The main bedroom on the second floor was fitted with a walkthrough wardrobe through which access to the new bathroom was gained. A wet room style shower with duel his and hers basins was installed, which involved entirely sealing the substructure of the bathroom.

Two more bedrooms with their own en-suite bathrooms were also added to make use of the roof space.

The project was completed on budget and one month earlier than predicted. Following approval from the conservation society and full sign-off from planning our clients where delighted with the result.

[Click plans to enlarge]