Hertford Street
An attentive design approach harmoniously blends old and new at this Grade II listed Georgian terrace in London’s Mayfair. Designed by HASA Architects, the project carefully balances sensitive restoration with contemporary living, resulting in a quietly composed home suited to modern life.
The carefully considered refurbishment, developed in collaboration with the homeowner, pays homage to the original intent of the building, modernising the first-floor apartment while meticulously restoring historic features and removing a series of insensitive later additions.
A sequence of subtle interventions allows the existing building to take centre stage. Freestanding joinery, panelling, and sliding and folding planes introduce a new layer of life to the apartment, gently delineating areas for living and sleeping. These elements were intentionally designed to be reversible, ensuring long-term flexibility while preserving the historic building fabric.
The non-original mezzanine was replaced with a new Cross-Laminated Timber structure, lined in white American oak and finished with Venetian polished plaster to the underside. This new structure spans the open-plan kitchen, housing the principal bedroom above. A dramatic dark steel panel forms the balustrade to the apartment’s staircase, contrasting with the cool tones of the original plasterwork and mouldings to create a striking focal point.
Materials and colours throughout the apartment are natural and restrained, creating an overarching sense of calm and clarity within the historic interior.
“Careful attention was paid to the distances and junctions between the historic layers and additions so that old and new appear to quietly co-exist, complementing each other both visually and programmatically.” – Mark Stevens
