This ambitious Primrose Hill mews conversion reimagines a single dwelling into two high-performance flats. Through close contractor collaboration, we navigated challenging acoustic and fire regulations to deliver an industrial yet warm aesthetic, featuring ash ‘cocoon’ bedrooms, suspended within generous and flexible living volumes.
Sector
Housing
Location
Primrose Hill, London
Date
2025
Client
The Estate Office
Area
140m2
Status
Completed
Conceptual isometric drawing
Situated in the heart of one of London’s most sought-after neighbourhoods, Primrose Hill Flats showcases the ambitious transformation of a quintessential single-dwelling mews property into two self-contained, highly-desirable flats. Driven by the pressing demand to adapt existing housing stock to meet modern standards, this project exemplifies our ability to reimagine residential architecture. Navigating strict fire safety and challenging acoustic building regulations, the successful delivery of this project was rooted in our close collaboration with the contractor, CSK – ensuring a highly considered, complex design was realised within a very tight timeframe and strict budget.
The Bedroom as a 'Cocoon'
At the core of the spatial reorganisation is the conceptualisation of the bedrooms as intimate ‘cocoons’ or ‘nests’ nestled within the wider architectural volume. This intervention serves a dual purpose: it accentuates the generous sense of space in the primary living areas while carving out distinct, cozy retreats for rest.
Through the strategic introduction of clerestory windows and selective internal glazing, the bedrooms read as independent volumes, giving the distinct impression of spaces delicately suspended within the primary structural framework. This thoughtful sequencing elevates the flats far beyond standard residential conversions, creating a highly bespoke living experience.
Glimpse through from the cocoon bedroom side window into the glowing living space
Ash cocoon bedroom within the wider volume, accentuated through the side and clerestory windows
Sculptural play of insulation depth on the exterior wall, offering opportunity for shelving to display art and planting
Intelligent Details and High-Performance Delivery
The project’s exterior interventions were handled with equal precision. A subtle interplay of insulation depths across the facade not only significantly upgrades the building’s thermal performance but presents an opportunity to unify the existing apertures. Internally, this fluctuating depth translates into a playful and coherent spatial composition, providing deep, purposeful reveals ideal for displaying artwork and plants.
Sculptural play of insulation depth on the exterior wall, unifying the existing aperture arrangement
Sculpting Light, Texture, and Flexible Living
To balance the hard-wearing, industrial palette, the interiors are purposefully softened through a rich interplay of textures and soft lighting. The extensive use of light ash timber brings warmth to the spaces, while abundant natural light is gently filtered through floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains.
Sheer curtains softening the abundant natural light and providing flexibility to create more enclosed, intimate zones
Sculptural play of insulation depth on the exterior wall
These curtains are not merely decorative but act as essential spatial devices for flexible, modern living. When drawn back, they facilitate a fluid, fully open-plan environment; when closed, they instantly demarcate more enclosed, intimate zones.
Neutral tones and considered detailing in the bathroom, appealing to a wide range of prospective occupants
Continuation of timber siding storage cupboard forming a microcement-wrapped kitchen peninsula and wainscot
Hard-wearing materiality honouring the industrial mews context
Honouring the Mews Heritage Context
While the property is not statutory listed, preserving the historical character of the mews setting was paramount to our design ethos. Our proposal established an architectural language that respects this heritage, leaning into a refined industrial aesthetic characterised by timber sidings and honest materiality. An exposed steel structure, highlighted with a subtle accent colour, forms a clear, unifying grid throughout both flats.
Natural ash and lightly painted timber sidings echoing the mews context while introducing warmth
Industrial, hard-wearing microcement and glazed brick, softened with filtered light through sheer curtains lining the facade
Conscious of our environmental footprint, we sought to minimise carbon-intensive materials by reducing their thickness and build-up. This is evidenced through the specification of a thin micro-cement screed—cleverly utilised above acoustic screed boards to surpass rigorous sound transmission criteria—alongside bespoke, insulation-backed concrete panels that deliver both thermal efficiency and textural depth.
Conceptual stair isometric drawing
Solid ash balustrade with extended fins overlapping the insulated concrete-panelled staircase wall
Making an entrance; new double-height staircase leading to the second floor flat embodying and accentuating the project’s play of light, volume and reinterpretation of the mews aesthetic with natural ash and concrete materiality
A newly inserted, generous double-height staircase leading to the second floor flat embodies and accentuates the project’s play of light, volume and reinterpretation of the mews aesthetic, offering an inviting, softly illuminated glimpse from the exterior while carefully protecting the residents’ privacy.
Primrose Hill Flats stands as a testament to Patalab’s commitment to unlocking the potential of complex urban sites. By combining poetic design concepts with rigorous technical detailing—and fostering a seamless architect-contractor relationship—we have successfully transformed a traditional property into two exceptional homes that gracefully respond to contemporary housing demands.
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill Flats is one of many successful projects completed by Patalab in the London Borough of Camden. Other notable projects include The Gables, The Bird in Hand and Heath House.
