Hampstead Apartment

Domesticating the Gallery

The brief for this full apartment refurbishment was deceptively simple: create a calm, contemporary home defined by clarity and restraint. The owners, both well travelled and deeply attuned to design, sought a space that felt composed and effortless.

Having spent time in their previous home, it became clear that creativity was not just an interest but a way of life. The apartment was quietly inhabited by a series of exquisitely crafted sculptures made by the client — intimate works, modestly positioned yet deeply expressive. They revealed an important truth: this project was not about adding more, but about revealing what already existed.

The new flat became an opportunity to declutter and recalibrate — to allow these objects, and the creative spirit behind them, to occupy their rightful place. This led to a central question: can a gallery be domesticated?

Through careful analysis of the existing plan, the apartment was spatially redefined by introducing a series of sculptural “gravity objects” — architectural insertions with presence and weight. These elements subtly organise the space, establishing moments of pause, alignment and focus. They form a quiet framework within which art and life coexist.

Materiality was selected with equal intention. A restrained palette of tactile finishes introduces warmth and softness, counterbalancing the architectural precision. The result is an interior that feels both composed and deeply personal — serene yet expressive.

These principles extended into the fully bespoke kitchen, conceived not as a utilitarian space but as a crafted object within the home. The project was recognised with the Most Luxurious Kitchen award at the DKB Design Awards.

The irony was not lost on us: within its category, it was likely one of the least expensive entries. The judges’ recognition affirmed a belief central to our practice — that true luxury lies not in expenditure, but in clarity of concept, precision of execution, and the emotional resonance of design.

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