Townhouse I.

Kensington, London

A Space Planning–Led Residential Redesign

From the outset, this London-based project was driven by the need to create additional usable space while improving flow, light and connection across multiple levels. As with many period London townhouses, the lower ground floor presented a particular challenge: limited ceiling height and a layout that risked feeling enclosed.

We proposed an increase to the ceiling on the lower ground floor, this intervention fundamentally changed the spatial experience, transforming what could have felt like a basement into a light-filled, generous living environment. A reconfigured stair became a sculptural focal point, enhancing visual connectivity and introducing a greater sense of openness and flow between floors.

A key objective of the project was to strengthen the relationship between the kitchen, living spaces and the garden. By carefully choreographing internal sightlines and thresholds, the design creates seamless transitions between inside and out, enhancing both everyday family life and entertaining.

Each layer of the house, from lower ground to upper floors, was conceived not as an isolated zone, but as part of a wider spatial narrative. The internal layouts were refined to ensure that floors “speak” to one another, both visually and functionally, strengthening the sense of continuity throughout.

At its core, this West London project is a family home. Once the foundational space planning principles were established, the design was layered with the practical and emotional rhythms of daily life.

The children’s bedrooms occupy the top floor, providing privacy and separation. In contrast, the principal suite was designed laterally across an entire floor, creating a calm, expansive retreat for the couple. This lateral planning strategy influenced the choreography of the windows, natural light flow and internal circulation, resulting in a coherent master suite that feels both generous and intimate. By increasing volume, refining vertical circulation and linking key living spaces, the project transforms a constrained townhouse into a cohesive, light-filled family home.