Mayfair Residence

Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King
Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King

MAYFAIR RESIDENCE

Jason King Architect

PHOTOGRAPHS
Harbin King

AREA
1000.0 ft2

YEAR
2009

LOCATION
London, United Kingdom

CATEGORY
Houses

The Mayfair Residence is an extension and complete renovation to a private residence in a grade II listed, heritage building in London's Mayfair neighbourhood.

The challenge of the Mayfair Residence was to transform a small, dark, garden-level space into one that is physically and perceptually more expansive and spacious.

Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King
Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King

The project creatively harvests natural light and makes the residence feel larger through fixed views and transformable space.

The new design amalgamates the collection of small spaces into a continuous, spatial flow.

Furniture or partitions define different areas, and sliding doors and temorary panels create temporary configurations as an alternative to the traditional Victorian matrix of rooms connected by a corridor.

Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King
Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King
Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King

The perimeter party walls - a consequence of the tight, urban condition in central London - are lit by new, continuous skylights.

These skylights simultaneously highlight the constraining condition, by creating a reveal between the ceiling and the party walls, and also deploy light to dematerialize these walls and expand the perceived boundary of the interior.

Another strategy to enlarge the space was to cut long, diagonal views that link interior and exterior spaces.

Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King
Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King

These views perceptually layer spaces, creating an impression that the space is larger and more continuous.

Through the alternating arrangement of interior and exterior spaces, the outdoor patios are claimed as perceptually contiguous with the interior, making the interior again feel larger.

Transformable spaces maximize the potential uses of the same space, expanding the functional program over time.

Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King
Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King
Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King

Large sliding doors and magnetic panels can close off the dining area to turn it into a study, home office, or guest bedroom.


Mayfair Residence
© Harbin King


Mayfair Residence
Plan 
Mayfair Residence
Plan 
Mayfair Residence
Plan