Most London home renovations involve building down or out, whether that’s adding a disco and home gym basement to a stucco pile in Belgravia or a kitchen extension to a Victorian red brick in east London.
Taking on the domestic remodelling of a former corner shop in Bethnal Green, architects Whittaker Parsons took a different approach. The architects removed a poor-quality extension, replaced it with a courtyard garden (including built-in bench and bee blocks), and set about making better use of less space in this east London house transformation.
Designed to accommodate three medical professionals working different shift (and WFH) patterns, the architects actually sacrificed six square metres of floorplan, concentrating instead on creating seamlessly connected working and living spaces that could easily be closed off for privacy.
East London house conversion for flexible living
Whittaker Parsons, founded by Camilla Parsons and Matthew Whittaker in 2015, was keen to use salvaged and affordable materials where possible. The house now circulates around a new, light-filled double-height entrance hall, lined with raw plaster, that reorientates the original staircase. Existing floorboards were hand-sanded and relaid, and the steps and structure of the staircase were carefully dismantled before being reinstalled. The new staircase offers extra storage, and space for a plywood-lined loo.
Meanwhile, the architects have picked up on existing dark green glazed tiles, which inform the design of the new bathroom, kitchen and glazing and provide a dramatic contrast with the raw plaster walls.
The architects, whose resumé includes the Gentle Monster London flagship store, have also ensured better insulation and energy use, installing new double-glazed timber sash windows, and insulation in the floors, loft and masonry walls within this east London house transformation.
‘The House for a Doctor project does more with less,’ the architects insist, ‘and demonstrates that through good design and careful construction we can create sustainable urban homes that can promote a sense of wellbeing.’
INFORMATION
-
The Bombardier Global 8000 flies faster and higher to make the most of your time in the airA wellness machine with wings: Bombardier’s new Global 8000 isn’t quite a spa in the sky, but the Canadian manufacturer reckons its flagship business jet will give your health a boost
-
A former fisherman’s cottage in Brittany is transformed by a new timber extensionParis-based architects A-platz have woven new elements into the stone fabric of this traditional Breton cottage
-
New York's members-only boom shows no sign of stopping – and it's about to get even more nicheFrom bathing clubs to listening bars, gatekeeping is back in a big way. Here's what's driving the wave of exclusivity
-
Arbour House is a north London home that lies low but punches highArbour House by Andrei Saltykov is a low-lying Crouch End home with a striking roof structure that sets it apart
-
A former agricultural building is transformed into a minimal rural home by Bindloss DawesZero-carbon design meets adaptive re-use in the Tractor Shed, a stripped-back house in a country village by Somerset architects Bindloss Dawes
-
RIBA House of the Year 2025 is a ‘rare mixture of sensitivity and boldness’Topping the list of seven shortlisted homes, Izat Arundell’s Hebridean self-build – named Caochan na Creige – is announced as the RIBA House of the Year 2025
-
In addition to brutalist buildings, Alison Smithson designed some of the most creative Christmas cards we've seenThe architect’s collection of season’s greetings is on show at the Roca London Gallery, just in time for the holidays
-
In South Wales, a remote coastal farmhouse flaunts its modern revamp, primed for hostingA farmhouse perched on the Gower Peninsula, Delfyd Farm reveals its ground-floor refresh by architecture studio Rural Office, which created a cosy home with breathtaking views
-
A revived public space in Aberdeen is named Scotland’s building of the yearAberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens by Stallan-Brand Architecture + Design and LDA Design wins the 2025 Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award
-
The Architecture Edit: Wallpaper’s houses of the monthFrom wineries-turned-music studios to fire-resistant holiday homes, these are the properties that have most impressed the Wallpaper* editors this month
-
A refreshed 1950s apartment in East London allows for moments of discoveryWith this 1950s apartment redesign, London-based architects Studio Naama wanted to create a residence which reflects the fun and individual nature of the clients
