Unlocking Space and Light Within the Existing Home
Brief: To renovate an old apartment into an attractive AirBnb
Objective: Flat renovation and loft conversion above
Location: Hackney, London
Year originally built: 1900s
Completed: 2018
Budget: £60,000
RIBA Stages: 0 – 6
House N is the careful transformation of a compact London home, where previously underused volume has been reimagined to create a lighter, more generous living environment without increasing the building’s footprint.
The project centres on opening up the internal arrangement to improve daylight, movement and spatial connection. By reworking vertical relationships within the home, the design introduces moments of height and openness that fundamentally change how the space is experienced, making the interior feel both larger and more fluid.
Material choices are intentionally restrained, allowing light to define the atmosphere of the home. Subtle shifts in proportion and perspective create interest without excess, ensuring the architecture remains calm, legible and comfortable to inhabit.
House N demonstrates how thoughtful architectural intervention can unlock latent potential within existing homes, prioritising clarity, liveability and long-term value over unnecessary expansion.
