Few practices explore architecture with the holistic approach and fervent passion of Spink. The British company weaves together refined, contemporary design with the time-honed expertise of a master builder under the leadership of Mike Spink; and Little Gem, a single-family home in West London’s Kensington, is the studio’s latest offering.
‘It is minimal in design, generous in scale’, says Spink, explaining that this project is all about ‘subtle materials, thoughtful design and precision of execution’. The two bedroom home may appear bijoux at a fairly compact 191 sq m, but a philosophy of ‘less is more’ was strongly embedded in its concept right from the start.
Little Gem was the location of Wallpaper* September issue (W*246) interior design and fashion shoot
Spanning three levels, with private areas on the bright lower ground floor and social spaces above, the interior flows, connected through a central, white, sculptural staircase. Its centrepiece though, is the extra-generous oak-panelled master bedroom suite, which includes a Japanese style courtyard, walk-in wardrobe and Carrara marble bathroom area of a size typically found in dwellings several times larger than this one.
Large openings direct the eye out towards the rear garden, created by landscape specialist Christopher Bradley-Hole. Lead architect and designer Franz Borho – a former director at David Chipperfield – ensured everything exudes understated luxury and simplicity, while the interiors include bespoke furniture from the company’s ‘By Spink’ branch.
INFORMATION
-
Van Cleef & Arpels’ move into literature is part of luxury’s latest cultural shiftAs L’École, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels and Franco Maria Ricci, publishes a multilingual series of books, we ask, how is luxury warming up to literature?
-
Inside Hotel Chelsea’s secret basement sushi restaurantTeruko, a new Japanese restaurant and sushi bar in Hotel Chelsea, marks the final jewel in the hotel’s years-long transformation
-
The Year of the Nun is upon us: Sisters on screen get political in the year of ConclaveIn The Phoenician Scheme, Nine Perfect Strangers and The Ritual concupiscence is in, but there’s more to it
-
A new London exhibition explores the legacy of Centre Pompidou architect Richard Rogers‘Richard Rogers: Talking Buildings’ – opening tomorrow at Sir John Soane’s Museum – examines Rogers’ high-tech icons, which proposed a democratic future for architecture
-
At the Royal Academy summer show, architecture and art combine as never beforeThe Royal Academy summer show is about to open in London; we toured the iconic annual exhibition and spoke to its curator for architecture, Farshid Moussavi
-
This ingenious London office expansion was built in an on-site workshopNew Wave London and Thomas-McBrien Architects make a splash with this glulam extension built in the very studio it sought to transform. Here's how they did it
-
Once vacant, London's grand department stores are getting a new lease on lifeThanks to imaginative redevelopment, these historic landmarks are being reborn as residences, offices, gyms and restaurants. Here's what's behind the trend
-
Lego and Serpentine celebrate World Play Day with a new pavilionLego and Serpentine have just unveiled their Play Pavilion; a colourful new structure in Kensington Gardens in London and a gesture that celebrates World Play Day (11 June)
-
Inside Abbey Road's refresh: touring the legendary studio's new interiorAbbey Road gets an interior refresh by Threefold Architects, bringing the legendary London recording studio in tune with the 21st century
-
The Serpentine Pavilion 2025 is ready to visit, ‘an exhibition you can use’The Serpentine Pavilion 2025 is ready for its public opening on 6 June; we toured the structure and spoke to its architect, Marina Tabassum
-
A meticulously crafted artist’s space in east London evokes the area’s long creative historyMaich Swift Architects’ artist’s space has radically reconfigured a Victorian terraced house, transforming it into a contemporary live/work interior
