We headlined this contemporary Notting Hill mews development earlier this month, after it went on sale with the design-led estate agency Domus Nova. An unconventional conversion of two former garages on Colville Mews, it proves that sometimes sacrificing space — rather than reclaiming it — can be the most successful design move a designer can make.
Faced with a choice between boosting natural light and maximising square footage, the architecture studio Arya Douge embraced the void, fusing the two properties into a 1327sqft private home, and sacrificing 200 square feet of usable space in the process.
Photography: courtesy of Domus Nova
Photography: courtesy of Domus Nova
Photography: courtesy of Domus Nova
Photography: courtesy of Domus Nova
‘On constrained urban sites it can be really tempting to prioritise floor area above everything else,’ says Arya Douge cofounder Adam Arya. ‘Here, we took the opposite approach. It was a meaningful sacrifice in pure floor area terms but what it gave us was far more natural light and a much greater sense of volume.’
By pushing two en suite bedrooms to the rear of the ground floor, the architects were able to carve out a dramatic six-metre double-height void at the street-facing façade. An entrance hall running down the centre is suspended over the lower-ground living spaces, allowing daylight from the south-facing windows to reach deep into the interior of the home, including the basement, filling the entire space.
A sculptural staircase, as much an architectural feature as a practical link to the upstairs, runs up into the void. Arya is first to admit he took a huge leap of faith to forfeit space in the name of design, especially London, where it comes at such a premium. But, he adds, while there will always be pressure in major world cities to maximise sellable square footage, buyers and developers are warming up to the idea that value is not created by floor area alone. ‘If sacrificing some space creates better light, stronger volume and more meaningful, memorable spaces,’ he adds, ‘people are absolutely willing to make that trade.’
Would Arya Douge do it again? In a heartbeat. ‘There’s always a trade-off between sellable floor space and creating a real wow factor,’ says Arya. ‘Sometimes you have to back yourself in the design, take a leap of faith and the overall feeling of space will ultimately translate into greater sellable value. A home that feels exceptional can often outperform one that is simply bigger on paper.’
