ALBANY ROAD, LONDON

Emulsion’s first self-initiated development is the transformation of a former off-licence building into three tranquil urban homes over four storeys, including one for practice director Michael Deeley and his partner.

Rather than flatten the site and new-build, we took a more sustainable ‘adapt and re-use’ approach, working with and adding to the existing building fabric to achieve a BREEAM excellent rating. An industrial-inspired material palette was selected, including Imar metal mesh and expressed steel beams, to differentiate between the old and new elements. The carefully chosen materials also reference the area’s industrial heritage and lend the exterior a bold, graphic quality that continues into the interior, complemented by the use of Japanese charred timber shou-sugi-ban cladding.

The aspect and location helped to drive the organisation of the units, where it was important for each one to have an external space facing towards the newly-regenerated Burgess Park opposite. The challenge was to create three spacious, light-filled apartments on a restricted urban site, and this was achieved through the use of large sliding pocket doors, roof-lights and full-height windows to increase a sense of openness between spaces.

The interior features custom joinery made by En Masse, with Richlite surfaces, Baubuche wood and lighting from Atrium, Ifo Electric & Muuto. The structural engineer was Heyne Tillett Steel, and the acoustic consultant was Mach Acoustics.