Upside Down Living | Transforming A 19th Century London Warehouse
“I really wanted to have the space lit by light pollution. Because we’re in the center of a city, there is a lot of pollution, and I felt that light pollution would really animate the space,” Marta Nowicka shared.
As an interior designer and the host of Design Seed, I’m always in search of amazing or inspiring interior design and architecture content. When I travel across the world, I always look for extraordinary projects to visit. This time around, during our visit to London, we came across this unique project, and that’s what we’re going to share with you today.
Strolling around the streets of London, I managed to peek into the ground level of most of the residential properties but I was always curious what’s on the upper level. Especially curious about what happens on the rooftop.
In today’s episode on Design Seed, we will be revealing a converted warehouse in the heart of London that initially looked like this. With the impact of design and architecture, the outcome turned out like this.
Hello everyone! My name is Alex Lee, and I am from Design Seed.
Ever heard of upside-down living? Moving the living areas to the upper floor and bedrooms to the lower floor, this design maximizes views, natural light, and privacy.
In the heart of London’s art and design district, we didn’t expect to discover an architectural gem embracing this upside-down living concept. On Clerkenwell and Old Street sits a 19th-century warehouse topped with a black, modern glass box. In the background, a church spire towers over it.
“This property is an Edwardian building, so it was built at the turn of the 20th century. It hadn’t been maintained or improved since the 1970s, so it was very rough. When we got on site to do the demolition, it was evident that the materials weren’t robust enough and couldn’t be reused, unfortunately.”
“We kept the entire facade and the original structure of the building, which consisted of Edwardian brick and stock bricks.”
“We’ve seen the rooms on the ground floor and first floor. Come upstairs to the top floor, which really embraces this beautiful view of the church I was talking about.”
When interior architect Marta Nowicka first moved into this home, it was a derelict print factory on a small site, wedged in between buildings, in a deserted part of town. While planning the space, she climbed onto the roof and after one look at the view, she decided to move the living area upstairs.
On the top floor, the stairs lead to an unusual glass box extension. This is the generous open-plan living and dining area. The interiors are a balance between modern and industrial past, mixing clean lines of metal and glass with exposed brick textures.
“I wanted to create light going down the warehouse because, actually, it is a warehouse in a very tight urban conurbation. By creating glass landings, I was creating this vista all the way down the building to almost funnel light into the lower floors.”
To the left, the breathtaking dining area is surrounded by glass windows, celebrating the beautiful view. The stunning view of St. Luke’s Cathedral inspired Marta to change the orientation of the entire home towards it.
The side where the kitchen is enclosed with a white wall but a 300-millimeter glass pane breaks up the wall in the middle, creating a controlled view of the busy Old Street.
Surrounded by two walls, the living area is designed for more privacy. The cozy, den-like atmosphere is enhanced by the exposed brick walls and a wood-burning fireplace. Adding a touch of modernity, the sleek furniture creates a timeless space. Sliding doors open onto a sunny roof terrace.
The entire living and dining area feels cozy, even though the ample use of glass exposes the space. The terrace, with modern furniture in black organic forms, creates a secluded space surrounded by a sprawling green canopy. It almost feels like being in a treehouse.
On the first floor sit two minimalist bedrooms with attached bathrooms within the original structure of the home. The master bedroom is a cozy, quiet space furnished with character pieces of contemporary art in a minimalist style. The second bedroom is a warm cocoon painted in timber tones.
However, the highlight here is the master bathroom featuring wall-to-wall mirrors. The bathroom takes on a sleek, futuristic vibe with infinite reflections.
“So, I felt if I use mirrors on the walls and ceiling, it’ll just give it this infinite space. By including a window looking up at the sky, it made it even more infinite. You could lie in the bath and look out at the clouds.”
At the ground floor, we are greeted by a functional workspace equipped with a colourful library wall. Further downstairs is a basement in industrial concrete and steel that Marta uses as a model-making studio. It is now also converted into a mini theater. The walls of exposed bricks from the original Victorian building add soul to the space, while a black glass table reminds us of modernity.
“I came up with this idea of having a company called Domstay. ‘Dom’ means home or house in Polish, so the idea of having a homestay.”
Marta described herself as a psychotherapist for buildings—a curator, finding old, disused objects and transforming them. The challenge that comes with redesigning an old building is losing the identity of the original structure in the process. Here, Marta’s empathetic touch has beautifully preserved the story of the warehouse by retaining a rustic industrial language throughout. Yet she adds a modern touch to the home with her carefully curated minimalist interior style, creating a serene space that allows the scenery to shine.
For more beautiful green houses, check out the R House, a stunning family home surrounded by a swimming pool in tropical modernist design.
Thank you for taking the time to read this Article. Stay tuned for more updates!
