Penrose Mews

  • An ingenious design response maximised land value and create community

  • Penrose Mews is a development of eight mews houses set around a triangular courtyard in West London.  

    Penrose Mews is our third sociable housing scheme: a complex backland redevelopment scheme in West London comprising eight three-storey mews houses set around a triangular courtyard. This tight, constrained urban site had previously housed light industrial buildings over and around a local electricity sub-station. 

     

    Our scheme achieves a viable 10,500 sqft development on a 720 sqm site by creating a basement beneath the shared courtyard within which 50% of the accommodation sits. It also houses the relocated sub-station.

    The subsequent above-ground build has a reduced visual impact, and allows more daylight and sunlight into the courtyard.

    • Penrose Mews, Penrose Mews, 2020

      Penrose Mews

      Penrose Mews, 2020
      Photograph
    • Penrose Mews, Penrose Lightwell, 2020

      Penrose Mews

      Penrose Lightwell, 2020
    • Penrose Mews, Penrose Night View of Courtyard, 2020

      Penrose Mews

      Penrose Night View of Courtyard, 2020
    • Penrose Mews, Penrose Kitchen, 2020

      Penrose Mews

      Penrose Kitchen, 2020
    • Penrose Mews, Penrose Mews, 2020

      Penrose Mews

      Penrose Mews, 2020
  • Shared and private spaces have been carefully mediated. The courtyard provides valuable outdoor amenity for residents and is offset with...

    Shared and private spaces have been carefully mediated. The courtyard provides valuable outdoor amenity for residents and is offset with more intimate basement courtyards and private roof terraces. Materials are used to create a warm and inviting composition. A reflective dusty pink brick is glazed towards the top of the elevations to reflect light into both courtyard and homes, the glaze creating a shimmering reflection as one moves around the courtyard.   Small bamboos and sweet potato vines bring colour, life and charm to the space.

     

    Visual boundaries between homes are deliberately blurred by a seemingly random, but unifying, window arrangement. A band of low level rooflights brings natural light into the kitchens below and simultaneously provides a buffer between courtyard and houses.  Porches and coloured doors articulate the entrance to each home.

  • Lightwells and rooflights are used to bring natural light into the living areas located below ground, where internal features include...

    Lightwells and rooflights are used to bring natural light into the living areas located below ground, where internal features include high-ceilings, generous reception rooms and matt paint finishes for a softer reflected light. First floor roof terraces accessed from the master bedroom enhance a feeling of openness.  Delicate ‘hit and miss’ brickwork walls screen views into neighbouring terraces and providing an intricate play of light and shadow.

     

    The scheme has been a success, adding both social and commercial value, and offers a practical solution to support modern city living. 

  • Project book shelf