Harley Place balances the demands of heritage conservation with modern design, transforming a traditional mews townhouse into a coherent, light-filled family home. Hewn’s design resolves a previously fragmented internal arrangement, while targeted interventions including a new roof structure, generous skylights, and full height windows bring daylight deep into the plan. Contemporary insertions are carefully calibrated to sit alongside historic fabric, creating a balanced relationship between old and new. The result is a cohesive family residence that retains its historic identity while supporting open, flexible living in a dense urban context.

Dark-stained timber joinery and herringbone oak flooring define the primary living spaces, grounding the interior with warmth and clarity. A bespoke staircase forms a central architectural element, combining solid timber treads, textured carpet, and a minimalist black metal handrail to create a precise yet tactile transition between floors. In the kitchen, dark matte cabinetry and stone worktops establish a strong, functional core that balances everyday use with a refined presence. Bathrooms adopt a pared-back monochrome palette, with large-format stone and geometric tiling introducing pattern and depth. Externally, the restored brick façade remains fully legible, with its intricate detailing carefully revealed and complemented by discreet contemporary additions, allowing material continuity to extend from street to interior.

Early and ongoing engagement with local planning authorities enabled Hewn to win unanimous approval for our design with minimal conditions, despite tightly controlled heritage and conservation constraints due to Harley Place’s listed status and prominent location within the Howard de Walden Estate. The home’s original timber frame and historic brickwork underwent extensive restoration and repair using traditional techniques and materials to ensure alignment and longevity. Contemporary additions to the exterior, including a new roof and dormers, proceeded within a clearly agreed heritage framework by taking cues from the scale, rhythm, and alignment of the protected fabric below. Internally, Hewn calibrated the design of new interventions to meet contemporary needs without compromising the integrity or legibility of the original structure.