The Art of Design Issue 35 2018 | Page 37

37 TG-Studio was approached by the client, Rhys Cole, to join two apartments in a South Kensington mansion block. He had lived in the basement apartment for some years and when a ground floor apartment above his apartment came up on the market Rhys saw an opportunity to join both units and double his living space. His current apartment had become too small for him and his girlfriend and staying in the area was a lifestyle choice. The ground floor apartment had its own entrance off a pedestrian cobbled mews in addition to being accessed off the common parts of the block. He knew this conversion needed permission from the planning authority, the conservation officer of the borough and also the residents association of the block. In addition he needed a clever design to introduce a staircase between the units and create the grandeur this much bigger unit deserved. He researched several architects and designers and selected TG-Studio. The lower ground floor and upper ground floor apartments both consisted of a living room / dining / kitchen and two bedrooms joining a bathroom. TG-Studio presented a design that split the two floors into an entertaining floor approached by a double height entrance hall accessed from the picturesque Thistle Grove and an accommodation floor connected to the upstairs through a private staircase. The view on the right shows the double height entrance lobby inviting one to climb the 6 steps to the high ceilinged upper ground floor. The mirror on the left is called Origami by Thomas Griem @ TG-Studio. The wallpaper is silk woven with metal pleats by Stereo. The stairs are framed by an oak portal allowing to incorporate low level lighting. Within the circular ceiling recess is a chandelier by RVAstley. The sculpture is by Carol Peace